From: National Public Radio
by Rob Stein
The Food and Drug Administration says it will formally propose regulating e-cigarettes.
Early Thursday, the agency unveiled a long-awaited rule that would give it power to oversee the increasingly popular devices, much in the way that it regulates traditional cigarettes.
“It’s a huge change,” FDA Commissioner told reporters in a briefing Wednesday, before the official announcement of the agency’s plans. “We will have the authority as a science-based regulatory agency to take critical actions to promote and protect the health of the public.”
The proposal will be subject to public comment and further review by the agency before becoming final. But once that happens the rule would impose new restrictions, including:
- A ban on the sale of e-cigarettes to minors.
- A prohibition on distributing free samples.
- A ban on selling e-cigarettes in vending machines unless they are in places that never admit young people.
- A requirement that e-cigarettes carry warnings that they contain nicotine, which is addictive.
- E-cigarette manufacturers would be required to disclose the ingredients in their products.