E-Cigarettes to Face FDA Restrictions

By Joe Elia

A broader range of tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, would be covered by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act under a new FDA proposal. This would put FDA-mandated age restrictions on sales of those products, as well as dictate rules for advertising, promotion, and packaging

The expanded coverage would include currently unregulated products, such as electronic cigarettes and hookah tobacco, the use of which has greatly increased, especially among young people.

In a news conference on Thursday, FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg called the proposed rule "an important moment for consumer health and protection."

Mitch Zeller, of the agency's Center for Tobacco Products, said that age restrictions would go into effect almost immediately after acceptance of the proposal, but that restrictions on advertising and promotions would be given a grace period of 24 months to enable manufacturers' compliance.

The public has 75 days to comment on the proposals.