Health committee  Yes, there have been a few studies. There are not many studies on that, but there has been some proof that the heating of some of these flavourings, what we call thermal decomposition, produces some cytotoxic products. That is true, but it's very difficult to gauge exactly what t

Health committee  This is indeed a concern because it can be used for many other drugs. However, it's very difficult at this point to gauge the importance of this behaviour. One has to consider that they can do that not only with electronic cigarettes but also with many other things. The issue of

Health committee  I would just add that the tobacco products directive separates products. Those that contain nicotine of up to 20 milligrams per millilitre would be regulated under the tobacco control legislation. For those that go over 20 milligrams per millilitre of nicotine, the recommendation

Health committee  However, I may say that I would be naive to consider that the product and who makes it are two separate and completely independent issues. How they manage their different portfolio of products is part of the tobacco industry's strategy. Who makes them and what they make are insep

Health committee  Yes. I agree with many of the things that Professor Britton has said. In terms of the risk of nicotine, it's not the killer in tobacco. However, I think it has not been researched thoroughly in some aspects. We know that nicotine seems to play a small role as a tumour promoter,

Health committee  You pose a very interesting question, which is at the heart of the matter. It's that the potential benefit would be maximized when the great majority of smokers substitute entirely for electronic cigarettes. If that happens, the potential will become important. There's a proble

Health committee  No, sir. They are with respect to those that contain nicotine as well as those that don't contain nicotine.

Health committee  Yes. The two points that relate to that is whether they are less or equally toxic. We think they are less toxic—in some cases extremely less toxic and in some cases not so much. There is some variety across brands and within brands. Secondly, in relation to whether in addition t

Health committee  Only with respect to the fact that electronic cigarettes, when they contain nicotine.... You could regulate that part, but the rest is exactly the same with those that contain nicotine and those that don't.

Health committee  Can you hear me?

Health committee  I was saying it is an honour to be able to present testimony to this committee on electronic nicotine delivery systems, ENDS, of which electronic cigarettes are the better known type. My testimony is presented on behalf of the World Health Organization, based on its report on END