Singapore still bans e-cigarettes despite studies suggesting they ain’t so bad after all
A new study conducted by Britain’s Department of Health concludes that electronic cigarettes are approximately 95% less harmful than tobacco. The agency announced their findings today (19 August) and encouraged the use of e-cigarettes as a step for smokers to quit.
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Professor Kevin Fenton, who performed the study, commented on the harmful effects of e-cigarettes.
E-cigarettes are not completely risk free but when compared to smoking, evidence shows they carry just a fraction of the harm.
The research discovered that e-cigarettes does not contain most chemicals present in tobacco products which causes diseases. The findings further emphasized that e-cigarettes are relatively 95% less harmful than other smoking substances.
Why is it banned in Singapore?
However, Singaporean smokers need to calm themselves down, because e-ciggs don’t seem to be reaching our shores anytime soon.
This is because the Ministry of Health (MOH) released a statement on 15 June 2015 that tobacco products not available in Singapore’s market will be banned from December this year.
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Here’s MOH’s explanation for the ban:
[The ban is a] Pre-emptive measure to protect public health against the known and potential harms of such products.
Moreover, a cursory look at the Health Promotion Board (HPB) website returns articles on the grave harm e-cigarettes can cause.
Here are a few reasons why e-cigarettes are sooooo harmful.
1) E-Cigarettes still contain harmful substances
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…but still less harmful than normal cigarettes what.
2) FDA did not give their approval for e-cigarettes
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While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve e-cigarettes as a method to help smokers quit, they do not ban the device outright.
Besides, we had no idea Singapore takes legal leads from the US. #marijuana #gaymarriage
3) No data available to prove E-Cigarettes help smokers to quit
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Because in Singapore, everything must have statistics.
Get updated, MOH
While MOH and HPB have their reasons for not allowing e-cigarettes in Singapore, the new studies have proven that electronic alternatives are less harmful than other tobacco products.
Maybe these facts can be taken into consideration for the law against e-cigarettes to change. All e-cigarette fans can do is hope for the MOH to take a look at these new findings.
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Featured Image via Vaping360
With references from Channel NewsAsia, Today and Health Promotion Board
