Dusting off the crystal ball

By Paul

This blog is generally, by and large aimed at picking apart press releases, poking fun at the anti brigade, and of course my own muddled thoughts.  I also like to try to entertain my readers when I can.

I’ve thought long and hard about this post.  Ever since putting up my thoughts on the TPD and what it means for me personally as well as what it will mean for everyone.

The only way to say it is like this:

For those of you that frequent Facebook groups, here is what a handcheck will look like:

All those shiny mods we all have, the DNA40’s, the Sigelei’s. Gone. Finished. Illegal. My next statement is directed at those that are ‘stockpiling’.

Every single one of us knows exactly what vaping in its current form means to each of us.  Now, imagine for a moment the TPD (along with the crazy assed regs in the US) is already in force.  You have a friend that smokes, and you want them to stop. TPD era vaping won’t let them, because vaping won’t exist. It really is as simple as that.

Let us take a closer look at the future of vaping shall we?

https://youtu.be/OYp5N1hIY-0

Technically, you can refill a Blu e-cig but how are you going to do that when your favourite flavoured liquids are banned?  Are you really going to vape tobacco flavoured juice? I know a fair number of vapers do vape tobacco flavoured juices, some only vape tobacco flavoured juices.  The majority of vapers prefer the wide variety of flavours, I know I do.

Modz on Mods isn’t the only one to have a look at what vaping is going to be like either. VapingWithTwisted420 has done a similar video on the Vuse:

So, let us take a peek at what exactly the TPD, specifically Article 20 is going to do:

  • ensure that electronic cigarettes and refill containers are only placed on the market if they comply with this Directive and with all other relevant Union legislation.
    • Bear in mind, that Article 20 exempts _Medical _Use from the TPD, but it is applied via two other EU Directives: Directive 2001/83/EC & Directive 93/42/EEC.  These allow higher nicotine strengths, and places vaping squarely under MHRA.
  • Notice for sale, six month notification period for any device or liquid. Including toxicology, pharmacology and production processes.
    • From what I can tell this is very similar in nature to the process in the US whereby products need to be verified prior to going on-sale.  By the way, any existing product must have notifications sent to the EU within six months of TPD enforcement.  Otherwise, banned. Simple.
  • All ‘unit packs’ – i.e. any and all devices AND liquids must now come with standardised warnings and accompanying leaflets.  You know, the never-read leaflets in your Ibuprofen tablets warning you about “possible side effects” and all that jazz.

The list goes on and on.  Clive Bates went through this in incredible detail here and it is definitely worth your time to read and understand exactly how this will affect you and how this will affect the devices and juices you currently use.  Just know that your 100W Sigelei that you are lovingly cradling in your hand whilst reading this will no longer be a legal device come 2016.  Red Astaire? Nope, gone too.

But I haven’t got around to the best part yet, and those of you who are familiar with Article 20 will see that I missed it out in the abbreviated list above.

This is all about the liquids.  Nothing bigger than 10ml for refill containers.  No nicotine content above 20mg/ml, anything higher puts it into medical territory.  Can’t contain certain ingredients as listed in Article 7, paragraph 6.  Only allowed substances can be present in the liquid and refills at trace levels only.

With the exception of nicotine, only ingredients that do not pose a risk to human health in either heated or unheated form.  This is deliberately vague as the overall aim of this is to completely kill off vaping as we know it.

The last two sub-sections are particularly stoopid.  Consistent nicotine delivery is next to impossible given that every vaper uses his or her device in different ways.  This is the whole point behind the diversity that the community enjoys.

Let me see now, who has a tank or dripper that is protected against breakage and leakage whilst having a leak free refill mechanism? I would bet that no-one has.

If you truly care about vaping and allowing others the choice to vape then there are a few things that you, the average vaper, can do.

For the US folks:

  • CASAA
  • SFATA
  • Vaping Militia
  • AVA
  • State or Local Consumer Groups, there’s plenty of them; far too many to list here

For the UK/EU

  • New Nicotine Alliance
  • ECITA
  • VIRI
  • Vapers In Power

There’s bound to be some I’ve missed, if I have drop me a note and I’ll pop them on the Useful Links page.

So my question to you is this:

What are you going to do about it? Are you going to bury your head in the sand or are you going to stand up and fight?

Talk to your local stores, engage with your GP and pharmacists. Nag your local MPs. Go in to your local cessation service (if you have one). Talk to the folks in the pub. Form a local group if you must, consider getting some backing from local businesses (not just vape shops).

I am not going to lie, it’s one hell of a struggle. I work a regular 9-5, I spend a lot of that time on-line commenting on news articles where I can, responding on social media as often as I dare. I e-mail my local MPs and other potential people who could further our cause.  I get home, I write this here blog. I spend even more time commenting on articles and responding to social media.  There is quite frankly, ZERO ME TIME right now, and I tell you this. I often wonder WHY I spend so much time doing what I do.

I may not be the most active or vocal of advocates, nor the most successful. But I keep trying because everything I’m doing is for the benefit of everyone both within the community and for potential new members of the community.

I do not do this for recognition, or fame. I’m just a regular guy, with plenty of history that believes in the cause.