EXCLUSIVE

The Co-operative Pharmacy will join the two largest multiples in stocking e-cigarettes in most of its 700 branches from next month, C+D has learned.

The multiple has confirmed that it would be selling Vype e-cigarettes from April 3, following discussions with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and a "full review" of the products available.

It had chosen the Vype brand, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco which is already sold in Lloydspharmacy, because it contained "high-quality, pharmaceutical-grade nicotine" and the manufacturer was applying for an MHRA licence, the Co-operative told C+D on Tuesday (March 11)

Selling e-cigarettes will enable pharmacists to support customers who would normally make an unsupervised purchase elsewhere,  Co-operative Pharmacy said	More on e-cigarettes PDA calls for review of self-selection plans following e-cigarette furore Pharmacists defy RPS call to halt e-cigarette sales Public demand led decision to stock e-cigarettes, says Boots
	"Our approach will enable pharmacists to offer health information and support customers who would normally make an unsupervised purchase elsewhere," a spokesperson said.

In an internal email to staff in February seen by C+D this week, the company branded its decision to sell e-cigarettes as "brilliant news". But the Co-operative Pharmacy told C+D at the end of last month it was still reviewing whether to stock the products as it evaluated the "potential health benefits".

In the email, staff were told Co-operative pharmacies would stock seven products, including three varieties of disposable e-cigarettes, three varieties of refill cartridges and rechargeable packs.

The range would be displayed in a counter top unit alongside leaflet dispensers, the memo said. However, these would only appear in branches that had space for the unit, it said.

The market was "flooded with poor-quality products" that the Co-operative considered "unfit" for its customers, and the multiple had worked closely with the pharmacy superintendent to find a "trustworthy product", it added in the email.

C+D received confirmation of the Co-operative's decision the same day the Pharmacists' Defence Association called for the GPhC to urgently review its premises standards over fears pharmacies were "undermining" the profession by stocking e-cigarettes.

Last week, C+D learned that some independent pharmacies were ignoring the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's calls to stop selling e-cigarettes. Boots started stocking the Puritane brand in February and Lloyds has stocked Vype e-cigarettes since January.