FDA will start regulating e-cigarettes like traditional cigarettes
The federal agency will also start regulating cigars and hookah tobacco.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.E-cigarettes have often been touted as a safer alternative to tobacco cigarettes and have largely escaped federal oversight. But that appears to be changing as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it will start regulating all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, cigars and hookah tobacco.
Prior to these new rules, the FDA had only regulated cigarette-related products and smokeless tobacco.
“This action is a milestone in consumer protection — going forward, the FDA will be able to review new tobacco products not yet on the market, help prevent misleading claims by tobacco product manufacturers, evaluate the ingredients of tobacco products and how they are made, and communicate the potential risks of tobacco products,” the FDA said in announcing the changes.
Regulation comes as e-cigarette use continues to climb among teenager. More than 3 million teenagers used e-cigarettes regularly in 2015, up by more than 500,000 from 2014, the FDA said. E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among teenagers, as 16 per cent of high school students and 5.3 per cent of middle schoolers are regular users.
The FDA now will be able to regulate the products that go into e-cigarettes, prevent misleading claims made by manufacturers and work to keep e-cigarettes out of the hands of children.
Twitter had a variety of reactions after the FDA announced the new rules.
Follow @PaytonGuion on Twitter.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments