The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently extended its authority to regulate all products that meet the definition of a tobacco product, including e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes have come under scrutiny after numerous cases of nicotine poisoning in children and several incidents of the devices exploding spontaneously. The products were not subject to FDA regulation prior to this extension.
With new regulation under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the FDA will be able to:
- Review new e-cigarette products not yet on the market;
- Help prevent misleading claims by e-cigarette product manufacturers;
- Evaluate the ingredients of e-cigarette products and how they are made; and
- Communicate the potential risks of e-cigarette products.
E-cigarette manufacturers claim they are offering a safer solution to smoking tobacco, but fail to mention the highly addictive properties of nicotine, as well as the dangers that other chemicals used in e-cigarettes liquids pose to users’ health.
We are happy to see e-cigarettes regulated along with other tobacco products. Not only have too many children and individuals been injured or killed by e-cigarette products, the regulations will help to improve public health and protect future generations from the risks of tobacco use.
Source: FDA