The E-cigarette Trade Association (VdeH) is readying a suit against the state of North Rhine-Westphalia for stunting business via a claim later rejected by a high court that e-products are subject to pharma regulation, VdeH said.

VdeH issued a nationwide call to dealers and manufacturers to join a suit against the state health ministry following the Federal Administrative Court ruling last week against the state, federal health ministry and the city of Wuppertal. Judges said e-cigarettes and paraphernalia are not medicinal products, and therefore not subject to strict pharma controls.
Damages asked from North Rhine-Westphalia may reach EUR 90 million (USD 111 million), according to a press report citing VdeH Chairman Dac Sprengel. The state’s position created uncertainty among dealers and consumers for two years since health officials first addressed the issue a statement made in December, 2011, according to VdeH.