EU science panel to consider risk of e-cigarette chemicals

The EU’s Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (Scheer) will assess the risks from chemicals in e-cigarettes, following adoption of a mandate from the Commission. The committee took the step at its plenary meeting on 7 February, where it formed a core working group and identified a need for additional expertise. The committee appointed two Scheer members to follow the activities of the working group and ensure correct application of the Memorandum on weight of evidence. Article 20 of the tobacco products Directive provides a regulatory framework for e-cigarettes covering safety, quality, consumer protection and collection of information, as well as prohibiting certain additives. Manufacturers and importers must notify member state competent authorities about their products, providing information on, among other things, ingredients, emissions and toxicology.