Nicotine regulation and tobacco harm reduction in the UK

Abstract

In June, 2013, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is expected to publish details of how it intends to regulate the growing range of unlicensed nicotine-containing products, including electronic cigarettes, that are available on the market. The publication will coincide with final guidelines from the UK's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on tobacco harm reduction, which promote the use of clinical services for harm reduction in smokers. The MHRA decision is particularly important because it will determine whether the full potential of harm reduction as a population strategy is realised by making safe and reliable nicotine products easily available to all smokers, irrespective of whether they seek help with smoking through the National Health Service (NHS).