Vaping products, what are we talking regarding?
Vaping products are electronic vaping devices, i.e. products (or any component of such products, including cartridges, tanks and devices without a cartridge or tank) that can be used, means of a mouthpiece, pour consumption of vapor containing nicotine. Electronic vaping devices, commonly known as e-cigarettes or vapes, can be disposable, refillable, or rechargeable. Three main elements generally make up an electronic cigarette: an atomizer, an e-liquid tank and a battery. Vaping products also include cartridges and refill bottles, that is to say the containers containing a liquid containing, where appropriate, nicotine. As their name suggests, refill bottles are used to refill an electronic device with the liquid to be vaped.
The majority of e-liquids declared on the French market:
- are composed of a dilution support such as propylene glycol (PG) and/or glycerol (vegetable glycerine, VG) or optionally 1,3-propylene glycol, sometimes water and ethanol;
- display a median nicotine content of around 6 mg/ml ;
- contain several substances imparting a taste or flavor. The most frequent are vanillin, maltol, menthol, esters with fruity odors. There are also sugars and sweeteners (glucose/fructose, sucralose), acids used in nicotine salts and plant extracts.
Key figures on vaping products (2019-2020 data):
- more than 33,000 products declared on the market;
- nearly 70,000 distinct commercial references;
- more than 1200 substances used as an ingredient;
- usually between 2 and 16 ingredients per e-liquid.
What do the regulations say?
With the entry into force on May 20, 2016 of European Directive 2014/40/EU, vaping products such as electronic devices and vaping liquids containing nicotine have been given a specific regulatory framework. This framework notably limits the nicotine concentration of e-liquids at 20 mg/ml and volume of refill bottles at 10 ml. It also obliges manufacturers and importers to send the competent authorities, prior to any marketing on European territory, a certain amount of information on the characteristics, composition and emissions of the products. Consumer products in their own right, they are subject to general safety requirements as well as certain specific requirements (excluded ingredients, dangerous chemical mixtures, electrical equipment, etc.).
> Find out more regarding regulations in France.
What are the risks to our health?
Since its launch, the electronic cigarette has sparked scientific and societal discussions on the risks associated with its use and its potential benefits for reducing smoking. These questions are the subject of epidemiological and experimental studies to acquire the necessary scientific knowledge.
THE potential risks are linked to the chemical substances emitted by the vaping device under the conditions of use and inhaled by the vaper, or even those around him. This concerns the substances used as ingredients of the e-liquid, their possible contaminants, the compounds which can form in the mixture, during the formation of the aerosol or even migrate from the electronic cigarette.
What does ANSES do?
ANSES is carrying out work to improve knowledge of vaping products marketed in France and assess the risks associated with these new practices.
As part of its task of processing and analyzing declarations of tobacco products and related products, the Agency publishes and regularly updates the list of declared products, their characteristics, their composition as well as the discrepancies noted in the information transmitted. by manufacturers.
