Government Reveal Information On Nicotine Inhaling Product Regulations
As people have managed to quit smoking during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has now responded to questions about increasing funding for public education programs to encourage people to remain smoke-free. Lord Bethell, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care, replied: “The Government has committed £70,000 to support the ‘Today is the Day’ campaign which is targeted at localities with high smoking prevalence. Public Health England’s annual Stoptober campaign will be held in October 2020 and will take account of the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
During his speech last week on the future of public health, Hancock explained that the work conducted by Public Health England will be shared out across the NHS. He also revealed the forming of a new organisation with a singular mission, to protect the UK from external threats such as infectious diseases of all kinds. The National Institute for Health Protection will be working alongside local public health organisations and their teams who are as Hancock refers to them, “the unsung heroes of heath protection”, Working together with parliament, they are ensuring that public health is of utmost importance.
Public Health England maintains its statement that vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking and says e-cigarettes could help more people make the switch and ultimately quit for good. The most important aspect of this newly formed organisation is to prevent and protect and so with this information from PHE, should the government be putting more focus on promoting the positive impact vaping has on those aiming to quit smoking and the preventable diseases caused by smoking? Smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in the UK.
Additionally, the government has recently released information about plans for labelling tobacco, and more importantly to us nicotine products after the Brexit transition period. The government has said it is committing to maintaining the current regulatory standards. It will introduce the Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (2020 Regulations).
