The 29 last September, a press release of the DGCCRF (Directorate General of Competition, Consumption and Repression of Fraud) taken by all media pointed to "numerous anomalies" and nonconformities of liquids and electronic cigarette chargers. Media packaging that still misses the point.
Methodological non-compliance
What does it look like press release broadcast by the DGCCRF and relayed by AFP before opening the TF20 1h JT? " 90% of liquids collected "Prove to be non-compliant," 6% are dangerous and almost all chargers have nonconformities ". These alarmist figures, taken over by the media as a whole, once again made headlines and stigmatized the e-cigarette. However, one should not peel a thick report to qualify these results and avoid sensationalism. Indeed, the report has not been published, so we will have to settle for a press release and a summary of 4 pages for any material. We have already mentioned in these columns methods " seralinesques Which consists in communicating on non-consultable reports before publishing the said study. Especially since the non-conformities concern above all the labeling of the products: « Food or drink representations "," absence of mandatory information on dangers on advertisements "," incomplete labeling ", Are so many nonconformities that appeared during the controls conducted by the DGCCRF. However, these lack of conformity have nothing to do with the supposed quality or dangerousness of the products studied for the consumer. There is no mention of this, any more than non-compliances with the standards presented last April by the standardization committee chaired by the Pr. Dautzenberg on product safety.
Predictable benefits
Sciences et Avenir questioned the DGCCRF, doctors and market players on the decorrelation between the study results and the relay given to the message. The DGCCRF specifies not to pronounce on the risks for the health 
human. The press service points to the interpretation that was made of the press release, while it was easy to predict the reactions it would provoke, the purpose of a press release being to pre-chew the work of journalists . In order to clear customs, the press service is candidly surprised that the media only retain the figures put forward in the introduction to the press release. Given the angle of the latter, it is needless to say that the communication service was fully aware of the benefits it would cause, especially on the particular subject of the electronic cigarette that is regularly the subject of anxiety campaigns. The Pr. Dautzenberg is very critical of the communication of the DGCCRFbut we must not forget that his recommendations will have the effect of slowing the penetration of the electronic cigarette as a substitute for cigarettes.
The Federation of Interprofessional Vape (Fivape) is rightly sorry that this communication campaign takes precedence over the efforts made in the standardization committee by all stakeholders and call into question several years of discussion. Let us remember for all intents and purposes that the AFNOR standards are voluntary and aim to establish standards of good practice, but are in no way enforceable.
And the professionals?
Faced with these regular accusations, the professionals of the vape have long organized themselves spontaneously. Added value of customer advice, attention paid to the quality and safety of products, creation of federations are all actions implemented by the actors of this market in order to organize a reassuring framework for the consumer and to be able to react to possible problems. Market begins to reach maturity and the consumer no longer has to buy from Chinese manufacturers over the internet to buy his equipment and liquids.
In France, the market has a lot of potential because smokers are numerous. The professionals of the vape are nevertheless the first victims of the alarmist announcements which appear at regular intervals in the press.
Questioned by the newspaper the Popular, a French manufacturer is sorry for the blows to its activity despite the efforts made for several years to improve the quality of products. Unfortunately, we may fear that this will most certainly change the day when the state will tax at the same height tobacco and e-cigarettes, against any logic other than fiscal.
Source : contrepoints.org
