Question for written answer P-002948-19
to the Commission
Rule 138
Michèle Rivasi (Verts/ALE)

In September 2019, US health authorities announced that the use of e-cigarettes had caused a number of deaths in that country, and that at least 450 people had been victims of severe lung damage associated with the vaporisation at high temperatures of commercially available liquid mixes and substances.

Irrespective of the controversy over the effectiveness — real or otherwise — of e-cigarettes with regard to quitting smoking, in its report of 26 July 2019, the World Health Organisation pointed out that e-cigarettes were undeniably harmful, advised against their use by people seeking to quit smoking and added that the use of e-cigarettes should be regulated.

How many health warnings regarding e-cigarettes and vaping has the Commission received to date?

How will the Commission monitor these cases?

How does it plan to review both the rules applicable to e-cigarettes and, more broadly, Directive 2014/40/EU (the Tobacco Directive), to take account of this new category of established health risks?