Are e-cigarettes a good thing as an option for smokers trying to kick their habit? Or are there potential dangers to users and others which might only become apparent after years more research?
Now a European Union directive has added a new dimension to the debate.
On 20 May the updated EU Tobacco Products Directive took effect. For the first time, e-cigarettes will be included in its scope.
They contain nicotine but the vapour, produced by heating a flavoured liquid, is said by Public Health England and other authorities to be much safer to inhale than tobacco smoke.
There has been political scrutiny on the issue, with a House of Lords motion tabled calling for the directive to be set aside in the UK.
According to the EU briefing notes on the inclusion of e-cigarettes, "their long-term effects on public health are not yet known.
"As nicotine is an addictive and toxic substance, safety and quality requirements for nicotine-containing e-cigarettes are necessary."
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