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Save Lives Campaign Hails New FDA Regulations on E-Cigarettes
May 5, 2016
For Immediate Release
May 5, 2016
Contact: Mike Roth, 916.444.7170
Maria Elena Jauregui, 818.355.5291 (Spanish-language)
SAVE LIVES CAMPAIGN HAILS NEW FDA REGULATIONS ON E-CIGARETTES
Food and Drug Administration decision confirms dangers of e-cigarettes;
Deals a blow to Big Tobacco’s false safety claims
SACRAMENTO, CA — Save Lives California today lauded an announcement by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that will extend its authority to regulate e-cigarettes as tobacco products. The decision by the agency charged with protecting Americans’ health deals a significant blow to the e-cigarette industry, a growing arm of Big Tobacco, which has falsely marketed the products as safe for consumers. The agency's decision gives a stronger impetus for California to act to keep kids safe by taxing e-cigarettes through the tobacco tax initiative on the November ballot.
“The FDA’s decision is a significant victory for public health and sends a strong message to California voters that keeping e-cigarettes out of our kids’ hands will Save Lives. The $2 tobacco tax on the November ballot will protect kids from a lifetime of addiction,” said Jim DeBoo, Campaign Manager for Save Lives California.
“E-cigarette use by teens has gone up by a factor of 10 in just four years,” said Kristi VandenBosch of the American Lung Association in California Board of Directors. “This rise threatens years of progress against tobacco addiction, which is the number one cause of preventable death in the country.”
The main federal agency protecting public health has issued “deeming” regulations that, once final, will allow it to provide oversight on this latest form of tobacco products. This will allow the FDA to require e-cigarette product manufacturers to:
- Register new products with the Agency
- Include ingredients and health warnings on packaging
- Comply with age requirements for tobacco sales, including those from vending machines
- Refrain from offering free samples
On April 14, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a troubling new report showing e-cigarettes are now the most commonly used form of tobacco among teens. The percentage of high school students using e-cigarettes rose from just 1.5% in 2011 to 16% in 2015.
“The CDC data reveal troubling trends about tobacco use among middle school and high school students and emphasize the increasingly urgent need for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate all tobacco products,” said Jim Knox, Vice President, Government Relations, for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network California. “The figures show the e-cigarette industry has been successful at marketing its products to our nation’s youth.”
“We thank the FDA and the President for the wonderful vision and leadership to move the FDA deeming regulations forward. This is a major win for public health. We are particularly pleased that it coincided with CA Governor Jerry Brown’s signature of five key tobacco control bills in our state. Significantly limiting the use of e-cigarettes by youth is important and we look forward to partnering with the FDA on the next steps and implementation of these regulations.” John Maa, MD. American Heart Association.
Save Lives California is a coalition of health advocates that has submitted an initiative to increase California’s cigarette tax by $2 a pack, in order to fight teen smoking and fund healthcare and smoking cessation products. The initiative would place an equivalent tax on e-cigarette liquids. Research shows that e-cigarettes don’t help people overcome nicotine addiction, and that teens who use e-cigarettes are more likely to start smoking.
Save Lives California was also able to convince the California Legislature to pass a comprehensive package of tobacco bills during a special session of the Legislature this year, including a bill that classifies e-cigarettes like other tobacco products.
The California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016 is backed by Save Lives California, a coalition of health advocates and others that includes the American Heart Association, American Lung Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the California Medical Association, California Dental Association, SEIU California, Blue Shield of California, the California Hospital Association and philanthropist Tom Steyer. The money raised by the tax will fund healthcare costs and research into cures for cancer and other tobacco related diseases.
Paid for by Save Lives California, a coalition of Doctors, Dentists, Health Plans, Labor, Hospitals, and Non-profit Health Advocate Organizations. Major funding by California State Council of Service Employees Issues Committee and California Dental Association.
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