Dragon Slaying

Steps to address a non-existent problem

Yesterday demonstrated the effects of a coordinated effort to discredit one of the most disruptive technologies that has several groups within “public health” worried. Not only for their funding source, which is neither here nor there, but also for the steadily decreasing relevance. Naturally, the media headlines don"t really get to the bottom of the issue: FDA puts e-cig makers on notice: Fix “epidemic” teen use or products may be pulled from market
The EU Crusade Against Vaping

The EU Crusade Against Vaping

As both Snowdon and Puddlecote reported today, the EU - along with 167 other signatories to the WHO FCTC - are set to travel to Geneva for the Conference Of the Parties session 8 (COP8), whereby they’ll completely ignore the founding principles of the Protocol - as I discussed recently. As with any gathering of the soulless anti-smoking extremists, there’s always going to be something that is a step too far.
Why the e-cigarette industry needs STANDARDS, not regulation

Why the e-cigarette industry needs STANDARDS, not regulation

I noticed this piece in The Conversation yesterday (it also popped up on another, unrelated news site), and unlike the usual vaping related articles, it wasn’t penned by the illustrious Simon Chapman. Of course, just because it wasn’t written by Chapman doesn’t mean it’s going to be a positive article. After all, The Conversation is his own playground. I’ve written about regulations and standards before, and my views haven’t changed. The BSI PAS was in response to the TPD and thus had to operate within the confines of that Directive, which as we know is very limiting in what can and can’t be done.
BMA, ARM, and alphabet soup

BMA, ARM, and alphabet soup

The next few days are going to be more than a little interesting. In case you weren’t aware, the BMA are holding their annual representatives meeting (ARM) at the BT Convention Centre in Liverpool. Should we be worried? Of course we should, the BMA aren’t exactly known for their openness or positivity to e-cigarettes. There are six motions in the ARM agenda, five of which according to the full agenda document are unlikely to be reached.