Tobacco products, e-cigarettes come under greater regulation

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Thursday took an important step in the national regulation of tobacco products, issuing a new rule that prohibits the sale of a number of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to minors. But two provisions in a federal bill could significantly weaken this authority. Find out what the FDA rule says and how it could be already under threat. “Before today, there was no federal law prohibiting retailers from selling e-cigarettes, hookah tobacco or cigars to people under age 18,” the FDA said in a news release. “Today’s rule changes that with provisions aimed at restricting youth access.” What’s in the rule The FDA rule helps implement the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009 and allows the agency to improve public health through a variety of steps, including restricting the sale of all tobacco products to minors nationally. “The AMA supports the FDA’s new rule and its efforts to ensure the public—–especially young people—is aware of and protected from these harmful products,” said AMA President Steven J. Stack, MD, in a news release. “We urge the FDA to issue further regulations addressing marketing of these products and banning flavored e-cigarettes, which are particularly enticing to minors.” “Patients suffer from many chronic and fatal diseases related to tobacco use, including cancer, heart disease and emphysema,” Dr. Stack said. “Smoking and tobacco use remain the...
Source: AMA Wire - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Source Type: news