The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Thursday released a proposed rule that would give the agency authority to regulate alternative tobacco products that are growing in popularity.
Such currently unregulated products as e-cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, nicotine gels, hookah and dissolvables would be brought under the FDA’s authority to help keep tobacco products out of the hands of minors and prevent additional Americans from becoming dependent on such harmful products.
The proposed rule includes provisions aimed at preventing tobacco-related diseases and deaths, including:
- A minimum age requirement and identification restrictions to prevent sales to people who are underage
- Required health warnings
- A prohibition of sales through vending machines to which minors might have access
The proposed rule leaves room for additional needed improvements, including banning flavors for e-cigarettes and cigars, which can contribute to the appeal for young people. But the new rule is moving in the right direction.
“The FDA’s efforts are a notable and important step to improve public health,” AMA President Ardis Dee Hoven, MD, said in a statement. “The AMA also strongly encourages further study of the factors that contribute to the widespread use of these tobacco products and appeal among minors and others, so we can continue to drive down use of these products to prevent the negative health effects of nicotine and tobacco-related products.”
The AMA long has advocated for the agency to regulate additional tobacco products, including an updated policy adopted in November, which specifically calls out e-cigarettes, pipes, cigars and hookahs as products that need careful oversight. The AMA also has been engaged for many decades in anti-tobacco efforts to improve public health.
“Improving the health of the nation is a top priority for the AMA,” Dr. Hoven said. “We will continue to advocate for policies that help reduce the burden of preventable diseases like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, which can both be linked to smoking.”
