Source: Health Policy Institute of Oho and American Lung Association
On May 5, the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products issued its long-awaited final rule giving the agency regulatory authority over all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, hookah, pipe tobacco, and other tobacco products. The regulation released by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gives the FDA authority over the sales, marketing, and manufacturing of all tobacco products.
Under these new FDA regulations, the sale of e-cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18 is banned and manufacturers are required to disclose their ingredients and submit their products to the government for approval.
The new requirements, which go into effect in 90 days, mark the first time the FDA has regulated any of these items. The rules compel retailers to verify the age of purchasers by photo identification and bar sales of the products in vending machines that are accessible to minors. They also ban the distribution of free samples. In addition, the FDA is generally requiring manufacturers whose products went on sale after February 15, 2007, to get approval from the agency to continue selling their products.