Spanish legislature to consider law banning e-cigarettes in public

Spanish Health Minister Ana Mato said a new law would ban electronic cigarettes in public buildings, children's parks and on public transportation. The ban is set to be included in the upcoming Consumer Law reform, ThinkSpain reported. Mato said the ban will likely be in effect by February, but the law still needs to be approved in the national Parliament and referred to the Senate for final approval before it is published. Regional parliaments will also be allowed to increase the restrictions. In some areas, e-cigarettes may be banned in restaurants and bars. Socialist opposition forces are calling on the government to pass the ban before the Consumer Law to protect people exposed to substances in the e-cigarettes. Spanish health agencies have not completed their research into whether e-cigarettes are harmful to human health.