“As cigarette smoking among those under 18 has fallen, the use of other nicotine products, including e-cigarettes, has taken a drastic leap”.
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On Thursday, officials from the US Food and Drug Administration announced a new ruling that extends the agency’s authority to all tobacco products including cigars, hookah, and e-cigarettes.
One local tobacco store owner says he does not have a problem with the new FDA regulations.
New FDA rules will start regulating e-cigarettes like they do with regular cigarettes. That means, like traditional tobacco products, e-cigarettes will be prohibited in many spaces like workplaces, restaurants, bars and movie theaters. He transitioned to e-cigs about three years ago, and said it’s a trend he has seen among his customers at XL Vapors in Springdale.
More than 15 percent of high school students report using e-cigarettes, up more than 900 percent over the last five years, according to federal figures.
The FDA plan stops short of addressing flavorings in cigars and e-cigarettes like cotton candy and bubble gum, flavors critics say are enticing young people.
Earlier this week, a draft report of Health Canada showed the majority of convenience stores and vape outlets refused to sell e-cigarettes to young people who tried to buy them during a four-month period a year ago.
The rule also prohibits e-cigarettes from being sold in vending machines except in adult-only venues. In 90 days, however, that will change. It warned e-cigarette users that they were inhaling “toxic” and “harmful” chemicals. More than 100 local jurisdictions around the country also have made the change, including New York, Chicago and San Francisco.
Previously proposed rules related to electronic cigarettes and other tobacco forms were formally released yesterday.
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“These are regulations that are essentially regulating us back to before the industry even existed”, said Aaron Frazier, Executive Director for Utah Smoke Free Association. “Regulators counter research doesn’t show e-cigarettes can help smokers quit.Under their new rules, manufacturers have to get government permission to continue marketing all e-cigarettes launched since 2007”.
