Jump to full article: Kahlee Times (ae), 2009-08-18
Author: Olivia Olarte
Intro: ABU DHABI -- Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) can be hazardous to people's health as it contains carcinogens and toxic materials, according to a senior official at the Ministry of Health (MoH).
The e-cigarette cannot be recognised or marketed as a 'quit smoking' therapy in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, Dr Wedad Al Maidoor, head of Tobacco Control Team at the MoH told Khaleej Times.
"There is general agreement in the GCC Tobacco Control Committee that e-cigarette should not be circulated in the (Gulf) market as therapy. It cannot be recognised or marketed as a kind
of therapy.
"There was no approval from (United States) the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it can be used as a therapy (and) no recommendation from the MoH," she
pointed out.
"If circulated, then the same rule applies as the (real) cigarette (with) specific requirements for marketing and selling cigarette -- with picture and hazard (warning)," she added.
According to Dr Al Maidoor, Dubai Municipality did a test of e-cigarette recently and found them "to be very dangerous and containing a lot of hazards to health."
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