"Around the world we can't get clear research about this. But what we're thinking is they are about 95 per cent less harmful than cigarettes," she said.
So, provided they are "thinking" correctly, encouraging smokers to switch from cigarettes to e-cigarettes can only be a good thing. The hope would be it helps smokers give up completely, using the e-cigarettes as an interim step.
Concerns have been raised about advertising and marketing of the products potentially hooking young people in.
But Ms Wagner says there will be restrictions on advertising, and sales will be restricted to those 18 and over. Young people these days are also more aware than ever of the health risks of smoking. One would hope they are not as naive and easily-seduced by the perceived allure of cigarettes as generations before them.
There will be no tobacco excise duties on the product, meaning cigarettes will remain significantly more expensive than e-cigarettes. Again, that may act as an incentive to make the switch.
Ms Wagner said if an e-cigarette got approved as a stop-smoking medicine under the Medicines Act the Government may even consider subsidising it. While I am all for the change that, in my view, may be a step too far.
