SEYCHELLES
Seychelles is about to introduce a new regulation that will classify alternative nicotine products, which include vaporizers and e-cigarettes, under the tobacco control law, legalizing these products following recent approval by cabinet ministers.
The regulation will extend to the manufacture, distribution, sale, and use of the products.
Bharathi Viswanathan, program manager in the Prevention and Control of Cardiovascular Diseases unit at Seychelles Hospital, said vaporizers and e-cigarettes were not on the market when the first Tobacco Control Act was drafted in 2009, emphasizing that they need to be regulated as they now a new product.
“Amending the regulation will ensure that a framework exists for consumers and sellers, under this regulation sellers will need a proper license,” she said. “It is a good way to help smokers quit the habit and it is also less detrimental to health as it contains less nicotine and other harmful substances found in real cigarettes, and regulations are required to ensure children do not have access to [vaporizers and e-cigarettes] and to ensure importers follow regulations.”