Today (29 October 2021) the MHRA published updated ‘Guidance for licensing electronic cigarettes and other inhaled nicotine-containing products as medicines’. This updated guidance comes after a consultation with the E-Cigarette Expert Working Group, a group of UK experts who provided independent oversight and advice to the MHRA.

The updated guidance provides further details on the steps required to license an e-cigarette as a medicinal product. To achieve a licence, products would need to meet the standards of quality, safety, and efficacy expected of medicinal products. If successful, this would potentially allow safe and effective products to be made available for prescription, for tobacco smokers who wish to quit or reduce smoking.

As stated in the Department of Health and Social Care 2017 Tobacco Control Plan, the evidence is clear that e-cigarettes are less harmful to health than smoking tobacco. Nicotine-containing e-cigarettes can help people to stop smoking, and are similarly effective to other cessation options. The MHRA are committed to improving the public’s access to safe and effective licensed products.

Dr June Raine, Chief Executive of the MHRA, said:

The evidence is clear that e-cigarettes are less harmful to health than smoking tobacco and that nicotine-containing e-cigarettes can help people quit smoking for good. The updated guidance on licensing requirements we have published today is a strong first step towards availability of safe and effective licensed e-cigarette products.

The MHRA will continue to support companies in the development of safe and effective e-cigarette products, to encourage the licensing of e-cigarette products as medicines in order to support patient-centred care and access.

Notes to editors

1. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK, by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.

Michael Lynton currently serves on the Board of Snap, Inc., Warner Music Group, and the Smithsonian. He served as the CEO of Sony Entertainment from April 2012 until February 2017, overseeing Sony’s global entertainment businesses, including Sony Music Entertainment, Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Michael also served as Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment since January 2004. Prior to joining Sony Pictures, he worked for Time Warner and served as CEO of AOL Europe, President of AOL International and President of Time Warner International, and earlier served as Chairman and CEO of Pearson PLC’s Penguin Group where he oversaw the acquisition of Putnam, Inc. and extended the Penguin brand to music and the Internet.

Tate Trustees are not remunerated. This reappointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Michael Lynton has not declared any activity.

This week we undertook inspections of 5 PGL centres providing Ofsted-registered care and activities for unaccompanied children on half-term holidays. Having found serious safeguarding issues at 4 of these sites, we have taken the decision to immediately suspend each of the 4 registrations.
           
Some of the concerns identified are being investigated by other agencies and we are unable to provide specific details at this stage. But we can advise that they include environmental health concerns, health and safety issues, and the conduct of staff – including substance misuse.

PGL provides residential breaks and activity holidays for children aged 7 -17 and operates from centres across the UK and France. Ofsted is only able to inspect PGL’s registered childcare provision in England. We do not have any power to inspect or regulate the other activities that PGL runs for children who are accompanied by their schools or parents.
                   
The settings that have had their registration suspended are:

• Liddington, Wiltshire
• Marchants Hill, Surrey
• Osmington Bay, Dorset
• Windmill Hill, East Sussex

We recognise the impact this decision will have on many families. PGL has a duty to inform affected parents urgently, and we have requested contact details in order to do the same.

There is a substantial increase in deer vehicle collisions from October to December. Poorer driving conditions and fewer hours of daylight, coupled with the annual breeding season (the rut) for red, sika & fallow deer make this a high-risk time of year.

Research over the years by the DeerAware campaign has also found that the risk increases after the clock change at the end of October. This is because drivers find themselves more likely to be on the road when deer are most active from sunset to midnight and the hours shortly before and after sunrise.

National Highways Head of Road User Safety Jeremy Phillips said:

As the clocks go back this weekend, journeys next week may feel different for many drivers even on familiar routes. This time of year we see an increase in the number of deer collisions and our advice is to take care while driving and look out for deer. Drivers may easily be caught unaware on roads they travel everyday by the sudden appearance of deer in their path, but there are some simple tips they can use to help reduce the risk.

The advice to drivers is:

1. When you see deer warning signs or are travelling through a heavily wooded or forested stretch of road, check your speed and stay alert
2. If your headlights are on, use full-beams when you can, but dip them if you see deer as they may ‘freeze’ on the spot instead of leaving the road
3. If you see a deer, look for another. They often gather in herds and follow each other as they move through the landscape.
4. Only brake sharply and stop if there is no danger of being hit by following traffic, use your hazard lights. Try to come to a stop as far away from an animal as possible to enable it to leave the roadside without panic. Try not to suddenly swerve to avoid a deer. Hitting oncoming traffic or another obstacle could lead to a more serious collision.
5. If you must stop, use your hazard warning lights

Many drivers have said that being aware of the risk of a deer collision has helped them avoid a collision. However, if you do find yourself involved in a collision:

• keep yourself and anyone with you as safe as you can.
• park your car in the safest place with hazard lights on. Consider using it to also warn other road users.
• call an ambulance if human injuries warrant it.
• call the police.

The police can also contact specialists to deal with injured deer. Never try to move deer off the road yourself as this will put you at great risk of injury.

For more information visit DeerAware

Members of the public should contact the National Highways customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Journalists should contact the National Highways press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.