Boots based its decision to stock e-cigarettes on public demand and trust in the Puritane brand, it has told C+D.

The multiple said it had "thoroughly considered" the views of customers, health bodies and its pharmacists before deciding to stock Puritane e-cigarettes from yesterday (February 24).

Boots revealed that it had spent more than two years working with Fontem Ventures, the manufacturer of Puritane, to ensure its e-cigarettes were "high quality, safety reviewed and rigorously tested". Although Fontem Ventures is a subsidiary of Imperial Tobacco, Boots highlighted that it had no direct relationship with the tobacco company.

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	Boots revealed its position on e-cigarettes on the same day that the Royal Pharmaceutical Society advised pharmacists against selling the products due to the lack of safety, quality or efficacy standards. The society also said selling products made by tobacco manufacturers posed an "ethical dilemma" for healthcare professionals.

Boots stressed that, despite placing its trust in the Puritane brand, it shared concerns over the "variance" of e-cigarettes on the market and did not collectively endorse their use.

The multiple added that it would keep e-cigarettes behind the counter to enable its healthcare teams to "have personalised conversations" with customers before making a sale.

 "We have consciously taken a significant amount of time [in making a decision], which we believe was vital to developing the right product for our customers," a company spokesperson said.

Lloydspharmacy started stocking e-cigarette brand Vype last month. Louise Baglole, pharmacist and condition category manager at the multiple, said the company had only stocked the brand once it was clear on its ingredients and manufacturing processes.