FDA Extends Authority to Regulate E-Cigarettes

Posted May 2016

In May 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ". . . extended its authority over all tobacco products to include e-cigarettes. Previously, the FDA regulated cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco and smokeless tobacco, but in 2016, the FDA finalized a rule – Deeming Tobacco Products To Be Subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act – which extends the FDA's authority to include the regulation of electronic nicotine delivery systems (such as e-cigarettes and vape pens), all cigars, hookah (waterpipe) tobacco, pipe tobacco and nicotine gels, among others."

The FDA noted that "tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of disease and death in the United States. As part of its goal to improve public health and protect future generations from the risks of tobacco use, the FDA has extended its authority to cover all products that meet the definition of tobacco products." The decision to include e-cigarettes as regulated products gives the FDA authority to require health warning labels and ban sales to minors. In addition, the decision requires new e-cigarette products to get FDA approval before being marketed. The new authority also allows the FDA to "help prevent misleading claims" and "evaluate the ingredients" of the products. The new rules go into effect on August 8, 2016.

More information is available at the websites below. All quotes in this article are from the first website. http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/Labeling/ucm388395.htm http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/Labeling/ProductsIngredientsComponents/ucm456610.htm

Source When referencing this update, feel free to use the following citation: Corbin, C.B. (May 2016). FDA and E-Cigarettes. Posted on https://us.humankinetics.com/blogs/hope-textbook-updates