Intellicig, the leading manufacturer of nicotine liquids for use with electronic cigarettes were invited to participate in a discussion about the e-cig industry on the Gabby Logan’s BBC Radio 5 Live programme on Tuesday 1st February.
Joining the debate with Gabby were Dr Hilary Jones best known from his long association with GMTV, Professor John Britton who chairs the Royal College of Physicians tobacco advisory group and Anthony Sefton, Intellicig’s Sales Director.
Recent increase in public awareness following full page adverts in the national press for e-cigarettes have led to growing concerns over the quality of products now available and statements made about their benefits. Electronic cigarettes are currently regulated by Trading Standards, but remain a “grey area”
In February 2010, The Medicines Healthcare and products Regulatory Agency ( MHRA) issued Consultation Paper MLX364 to seek opinion as to whether e-cigarettes should be considered a medicinal device and attract Marketing Authorisation regulation.
Following a lengthy consultation period, It is now expected that the MHRA will issue their decision within the next three months which will determine the future of the e-cig industry in the UK.
It is clear that product confusion remains a significant issue in the development of the e-cigarette, with Dr Jones admitting little knowledge about e-cigs beyond a morning’s reading and advocated traditional NRT products as the best form of quitting smoking. Professor Britton was strongly in support of any medium which helps smokers to stop burning tobacco. Both were convinced by the need for the e-cigarette industry to be more open as to what ingredients are used in the e-liquids and the quality controls adopted. There was further concern voiced over the use of myriad flavours which may cause children to become attracted.
Intellicig were delighted to be able to clearly and provably state that the company’s proprietary ECOpure nicotine preparations are manufactured within their own laboratories at the UMIC Bio Science facility in Manchester, using only minimal natural ingredients, traceable back to raw level and conforming to approved standards. Further, Intellicig do not promote their EVOlution and ECOpure products as quit smoking devices and only make ECOpure in two flavours, regular and menthol, nor does the Company make products available to those under 18 years old and to those who don’t already smoke tobacco.
Anthony Sefton, Sales Director at Intellicig openly stated that the Company fully supports the MHRA’s move towards e-cigarettes becoming regulated as a licensed medicinal device, as Intellicig had commenced a structured programme towards licensing as far back as November 2009, well in advance of the issuing of MLX 364 in February 2011. Intellicig has maintained extremely close relationships with Trading Standards North West for over 2 years, with the Company’s packaging, CHiP containers and labelling, including the use of tactiles for those with visual impairment, being held up as the bench mark for the industry.
Extensive re-investment into its in-house Research & Development policy has led Intellicig to increasingly believe that its EVOlution e-cigarette and ECOpure product range offers smokers a very real, cost effective alternative to burning tobacco as a method of ingesting nicotine, and one which provides an accurate substitute to smoking but without tobacco and tar.
The debate can be heard by visiting http://www.intellicig.com/news/royal-college-of-physicians-praise-intellicigs-ecopurity-a-19.html
For more information about Intellicig ECOpure, visit www.intellicig.com or mail [email protected]
