United Kingdom: : New rules on the marketing of e-cigarettes

The UK co-regulatory bodies, the Committee of Advertising Practice and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice have introduced changes to their codes to regulate the marketing of e-cigarettes. The former covers general advertising, including non-broadcast electronic media, such as company websites and posts on social media directly connected with the supply of goods and services; the latter covers television services licensed by Ofcom. There were previously no specific restrictions on non-broadcast advertising of e-cigarettes. However, e-cigarettes could in practice not be advertised in television because of a general prohibition of indirect promotion of tobacco products. The effect of this change is to permit such advertising, but only subject to major restrictions.