The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is particularly concerned about users under the age of 18: On Thursday, the agency said it will ban the sale of e-cigarettes to minors.
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The rules promise to have a major impact on the $3.4 billion e-cigarette industry that has flourished in the absence of federal regulation, making the nicotine-delivery devices the most commonly used tobacco products for US youngsters.
“As cigarette smoking among those under 18 has fallen, the use of other nicotine products, including e-cigarettes, has taken a drastic leap”, said Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell. In a move vigorously opposed by manufacturers, the agency said manufacturers would have to seek permission to remain on the market under a multi-tiered system. We hope that the FDA will take additional steps to protect young people from becoming e-cigarette users, such as banning flavors and requiring nicotine exposure warnings. They lack the chemicals and tars of burning tobacco, but the cigarettes have not been extensively studied, and there’s no scientific consensus on the risks or advantages of “vaping”. Companies that do not submit marketing applications risk having their products removed from stores.
Improving the health of the nation is a top priority for the AMA and we will continue to advocate for policies that help reduce the burden of preventable diseases like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, which can both be linked to smoking.
The U.S. government is issuing new rules on electronic cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Three million US middle and high school students reported using e-cigarettes in 2015, compared with 2.46 million in 2014, according to the most recent federal data.
“It will help us catch up with changes in the marketplace, put into place rules that protect our kids and give adults information they need to make informed decisions”, she said.
Either way, critics said the price would be too onerous for numerous small businesses that manufacture e-cigarettes, the vaping liquids and other related items. According to Gregory Conley, the president of the American Vaping Industry, thousands of businesses could close due to the time spent and costs of complying with the regulation. But manufacturers have a two-year deadline to submit them for approval.
The e-cigarette vapor industry, which includes e-cigarettes, vapors, personal vaporizers and tanks, is expected to have about $4.1 billion in sales in 2016, Wells Fargo estimated in a recent research note.
It added that the fear of e-cigarettes being a gateway to smoking was unfounded.
The American Heart Association has fervently urged the FDA to crack down on the industry’s efforts to target children.
The type of e-cigarette commonly used around the world was originally invented in China in 2003. Most e-cigarettes and accessories are sold in convenience stores, gas stations, vape stores, and online.
Until now, all of those products “had gone largely unregulated” said Mitch Zeller, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. It penalizes smokers who are trying to quit through using vapor products, the statement said.
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Reynolds American Inc, Imperial Brands Plc and Altria Group Inc are among the largest makers of e-cigarettes.
