The Dutch Ministry Of Health Has Launched A Plan To Regulate E-cigarettes, Proposing To Standardize E-cigarette Designs

The Dutch Ministry of Health has launched a plan to regulate e-cigarettes, proposing to standardize e-cigarette designs

The Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), an agency under the Dutch Ministry of Health, has proposed standardizing the design of e-cigarettes to reduce their appeal to teenagers, a plan that is consistent with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to Vaping360 on May 31, the Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), an agency under the Dutch Ministry of Health, proposed a proposal to standardize the functions and appearance of e-cigarettes. They believe that reducing the attractiveness and ease of use of e-cigarette products will help eliminate the use of e-cigarettes by teenagers.

RIVM detailed the proposal in a report released in April titled "Options for Reducing the Attractiveness of E-Cigarettes by Adjusting Appearance and Functionality".

The document explains that the various existing e-cigarette products enable manufacturers to target different consumer groups based on their needs, experience and personal preferences. This also enables manufacturers to continue to make new designs to attract a new generation of users. According to RIVM, the features that make products "attractive" include: "concealment, aesthetics, technical characteristics, convenience and ease of use, modifiability, and nicotine delivery." RIVM said, "It seems to be common among teenagers and young people in the United States."

RIVM speculates that people will not smoke e-cigarettes that look ugly. RIVM points out that these consumer choices that encourage nicotine use among young children can be eliminated by mandating standardized designs.

"There are multiple ways to standardize the design of e-cigarette devices, and more research is needed to determine which set of device features minimizes the appeal of e-cigarettes to young people. The appeal of tobacco and e-cigarette devices can be further reduced by making them dark or printing hygiene warnings."

The Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) said the standardized e-cigarette plan is consistent with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, which "recommends prohibiting attractive and/or promotional features such as color, regulating features that allow users to manipulate the product, and limiting the impact of power on nicotine and harmful substances delivered."

The agency has produced a list of allowed e-liquid ingredients that included known carcinogens and forced the government to delay the implementation of a planned flavor ban by a year.