The Dutch Health Agency wants standard vape devices

An agency of the Dutch Ministry of Health is proposing to standardize vaporizers in terms of function and appearance, saying that reducing the products’ attractiveness and ease of use will help eliminate the use of vaporizers among young people. The plan is included in wa document published in April by the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).

The document, titled “Opportunities to Reduce the Desirability of E-Cigarettes by Regulating Appearance and Functionality,” explains that the wide range of vaping products available “enables manufacturers to target diverse consumer groups based on their needs, experience and personal preferences” and allows manufacturers to ” continually developing new designs that will appeal to new generations of users.”

The features that “contribute to attractiveness” according to RIVM are “discreteness, aesthetics, technological features, comfort and ease of use, and the possibility of modification. and nicotine delivery.” Additionally, the products “can be manipulated for use in alternative practices such as cloud chasing and dripping.” Both practices, the RIVM says, “appear to be common among American youth and young adults.”

RIVM believes that people will not vape ugly e-cigarettes

All these burdensome consumer choices that encourage vulnerable children to use nicotine can be eliminated, says RIVM, by introducing a unified design.

“There are many approaches to standardizing the design of e-cigarette devices,” the agency notes, “further research is needed to determine which set of device features most reduces the appeal of e-cigarettes to young people.