It's not working. I tried to sign but the form didn't go through so tried in a different browser, got a message that the site was down and they were fixing the problem.

 

I've had my first reply:

My Reply...

Dear Mrs Yannakoudakis,

Thank you for your reply, which I read with great interest.

Whilst I agree entirely with your opinions regarding passive smoking, I am a little concerned that you may be comparing exhaled electronic cigarette vapour directly with exhaled cigarette smoke on a like-for-like basis, when there is little evidence to suggest that e-cigarette use results in second hand "vaping" - as is illustrated in the conclusions of this study extract, for example.

I believe that the proposed EU Tobacco Directive changes will effectively create a black market for supplies - and will potentially encourage "vapers" to source "grey" nicotine supplies in the form of herbicides etc. - the harm potential of doing so being significant, which at the present time it isn't as all UK supplies of nicotine are pharmaceutical grade. Most importantly it will deny individuals who choose to "vape" the one viable alternative they have at present to switch to a healthier alternative to smoking - often after repeated cycles and failures of prescribed nicotine replacement therapy. My personal rate of success following NRT is zero with fifteen years of trying to stop smoking - but switched to vaping overnight, and the effects to my personal health have been remarkable.

I feel that this quote (from Lionel Shriver, taken from the Guardian article linked below), whilst strong, sums up my feelings on this matter rather well:

"What's truly evil is attempting to deny people addicted to a profoundly damaging substance the opportunity to transfer that addiction to a product most medical professionals rate as 99% harmless. The gathering European opposition to electronic cigarettes is the result of knee-jerk cultural prejudice, puritanical vindictiveness, corporate collusion, and the unconscionable greed of tax authorities that won't be able to heap the same punitive, confiscatory, opportunistic duties on a product that doesn't hurt anyone."

A basic internet search will provide links to scientific papers and studies regarding the safety and efficacy of "e-cigarette" use in comparison to traditional tobacco products. The work of Dr. Michael Siegel, Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health may be of particular interest. He has 25 years of experience in the field of tobacco control and previously spent two years working at the Office on Smoking and Health at CDC, where he conducted research on secondhand smoke and cigarette advertising. He has published nearly 70 papers related to tobacco and testified in the landmark Engle lawsuit against the tobacco companies, which resulted in an unprecedented $145 billion verdict against the industry. He teaches social and behavioral sciences, mass communication and public health, and public health advocacy in the Masters of Public Health program. Dr Siegel is a keen proponent of "e-cigarette" use as a tobacco harm reduction measure.

I also include the following links to articles which may also be of interest to you.
European Respiratory Society - "Electronic Cigarettes Do Not Damage The Heart".
Electronic Cigarette Industry Trade Association (ECITA) -
"French Study Shows Significant Health Improvements For Smokers Using Electronic Cigarettes"
The Guardian - "No Smoke Without Ire"
TIME - Business & Money - "Can electronic Cigarettes Challenge Big Tobacco"

Thank you once again for your reply, and I trust that my views as a constituent and my current personal freedom of choice between smoking and "vaping" will also be taken into account during your "pre-judgement" considerations.

Yours sincerely,

Etc...

As a post script - I would be delighted to meet with yourself and any other interested parties to discuss and demonstrate vaping if you feel this would be beneficial.

 

Great letter Lee!

 

Ditto. I have tried several times on different browsers and it stalls when one clicks the 'sign' button.

 

Hi, all,

I actually met with Marina Yannakoudakis a couple of years back, to discuss e-cigs. She didn't seem particularly friendly, and I fear sits in the 'anti-Tobacco' camp, rather than the 'pro health' camp! Your letter is excellent, and she is on my list to send our open letter (when I eventually get the bugger finished!) so hopefully, all these MEPs can refocus on what really matters, and hopefully really make a difference.

As for the petition, I have been trying for MONTHS to get it fixed! I have contacted them again tonight, and will keep pushing to get it sorted, but I am at the mercy of whoever runs that site.

Anyhoo, thanks and I'll keep you all posted...

Cheers,

Katherine

 

I wish it were possible to transfer the petition with all the signatures to another site, but know that can't be done.

Catherine Bearder, MEP for the SE seems to be one of the 'anti-tobacco, not public health' MEPS but her reply made it difficult to tell as most of it was just throwing the main points of all of the Directive at me.
She did say that in future I could get my eliquid as a medicine, that it needed regulating, that the WHO said it was more toxic, addictive etc than tobacco, and quoted the Athens discredited 'lung damage' study. She said she'd vote but not which way, asked me to send her studies as 'hardly any have been done' but hasn't acknowledged the ones I sent her links to.

 

If they do decide to ban e cigs, when will this happen?

 

I doubt it could go into effect immediately, possibly a year or two for revisions?

 

Thanks for reply. I'm just really annoyed about hearing about this. I've only vaped since beginning of November and the thought of not being allowed to continue doing this because of "the big ppl" has decided so without educating themselves makes me mad! Switching from regular cigarettes to vaping is by far one of the best things I've done to my health.

 

I've had two MEP replies and one from my MP. MP just says he'll talk to Jeremy Hunt, Lib-Dem MEP seems to know nothing and suggests I can vape on prescription, but I posted this letter in another thread and think it worth repeating, from a Conservative MEP.