WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced sweeping new regulatory control over e-cigarettes, as well as cigar, hookah and pipe tobacco.
According to the new regulations, e-cigarettes can no longer be sold to minors, meaning age verifications will be required by way of photo ID.
E-cigarettes are no longer allowed to be sold in vending machines.
Distributors will also be banned from providing free samples of their e-cigarette products.
“We have more to do to help protect Americans from the dangers of tobacco and nicotine, especially our youth,” said Human Health and Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell.
“As cigarette smoking among those under 18 has fallen, the use of other nicotine products, including e-cigarettes, has taken a drastic leap. All of this is creating a new generation of Americans who are at risk of addiction.
“Today’s announcement is an important step in the fight for a tobacco-free generation ─ 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.”
The FDA says smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease in the United States, causing 480,000 deaths per year.
Prior to Thursday’s announcement there were no federal laws prohibiting retailers from selling e-cigarettes, hookah tobacco or cigars to people under age 18.
The new rules go into effect in 90 days.
The new regulations also extend the manufacture and marketing of e-cigarettes, including claims that they offer a safer alternative to traditional smoking.
The new requirements include:
Registering manufacturing establishments and providing product listings to the FDA;reporting ingredients, and harmful and potentially harmful constituents; requiring premarket review and authorization of new tobacco products by the FDA; placing health warnings on product packages and advertisements; and not selling modified risk tobacco products (including those described as “light,” “low,” or “mild”) unless authorized by the FDA.
