Update on Ministry of Health Guidance/Information & WHO CoP7

As most here in NZ know by now, the Ministry of Health has updated their information on e-cigarettes for health care providers. (you can see that here).    Of course, we are thrilled that the information and documentation that we submitted to the MoH, Health Committee and MP Marama Fox was considered, utilised and made available to health care professionals in their daily care of patients.  Once again, we thank you for doing that.

In spite of the good news, there have been a few interviews and posts on social media that have taken a negative spin on this information, for whatever reason, that has caused some local controversy regarding the actual legalisation process and the future endgame with regards to e-cigarettes.    There seems to be quite a few people out there talking about the situation without actually having concrete validated information.

AVCA is about information, educating and advocating.   That is all we do, and as soon as we know things we advise.  We cannot force people to accept that advice, however it would be beneficial to all concerned to not spread misinformation and speculative opinions to create confusion.   It is not that the information is not available, it is that certain people have chosen to not acknowledge it for whatever reason.

So, to clarify on the MoH document regarding e-cigarettes issued this past week:

The document linked above does not mean that the MoH has approved e-cigs as a cessation device.   Nor does it mean that they recommend them as such.  What it DOES do is allow health care providers information and guidance should the issue arise during the course of their patient interaction and enable them to be able to discuss it intelligently and supportively.

As of this time, there are no standard e-cig setups (e liquid) that are before Medsafe for approval as a cessation device.  There is a heat-not-burn device in the pipeline, as well as inhaler devices but NO e-liquid vapouriser device.   We need to be clear about this.

We also need to be very clear that the current legalisation process involves making nicotine e-liquid for use in e-cigs as a CONSUMER RETAIL product.  Not a medical product.   As such, that means that the government will not be, at any time in the near future, considering suggesting or approving e-cigs as an official smoking cessation method or option.

And lastly, regarding the rumour that legalisation is only going to be a temporary measure – that the govt will legalise nicotine containing eliquid in the short term and then rescind that by initating a ban on it once the smoking levels have dipped below 5%.  No.  Just No.

Onto the WHO FCTC CoP7:

We have contacted the MoH regarding NZ’s participation, as a signatory to the FCTC, in the CoP7 in New Delhi in November.  In our correspondence we expressed our concerns that the official guidance document issued by WHO was lacking in current, valid information and was a step backwards with regards to the work currently in process here in New Zealand.  We strongly asked that the MoH not backtrack on the current processes in place to make ecigs and nicotine eliquid accessible on the retail market.

We did receive a response from MoH that they have taken our concerns on board and are proceeding with the current legalisation process and will be issuing their official statement on that process by the end of October.

As we said months ago, the process is ongoing and we are getting there slowly but surely.   We just have to keep on keeping on, sharing good validated information and supporting each other in the journey.

Thank you 🙂