FDA Acknowledges Youth E-Cigarette Crisis; Agency Should Use Full Regulatory Authority to Address Problem

Washington, D.C. – Today the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acknowledged that youth use of electronic cigarettes has, “reached an epidemic proportion.” As a result, FDA is giving several leading electronic cigarette manufacturers 60 days to produce a plan to reduce youth sales.

The following is a statement from Chris Hansen, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN):

“Today’s FDA announcement acknowledging teen electronic cigarette use as a public health epidemic is a welcome and necessary first step to addressing what FDA recognizes as a serious problem. Clearly the FDA knows who the industry culprits are in this epidemic and as such should exercise its full regulatory authority over these products rather than allow the industry to voluntarily self-correct.

“When Congress passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act in 2009 it gave FDA the tools and authority needed to adequately regulate tobacco products and prevent youth from starting tobacco use. However, because of numerous rule-making delays and a seeming reluctance to fully assert its authority, FDA for years has repeatedly missed opportunities to keep tobacco products out of the hands of our children and we have seen e-cigarette use among youth hit epidemic levels.

“We urge FDA to require pre-market review of all new tobacco products and prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, unless those products undergo full pre-market review. This is essential to preventing another generation of teens from becoming addicted to dangerous tobacco products.”

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