Published on May 6, 2016
The Prevent Cancer Foundation welcomed the rule finalized on May 5 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), giving the administration the authority to regulate e-cigarettes, cigars, hookah and other tobacco products in the same manner in which it regulates cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.
This long overdue rule will go far in protecting children and youth from tobacco addiction and its health consequences, including lung, oral, throat and at least nine other types of cancer. Under the FDA’s current authority, there is no age restriction on who can purchase an e-cigarette or its liquids or regulations on the content of e-cigarette liquid. Under this rule, the FDA will now ban sales of all of these products to anyone under the age of 18, forbid free samples and ban flavored cigars and e-cigarettes.
“Between 2011 and 2015 the number of high schoolers using e-cigarettes increased tenfold. This new rule will help keep more high schoolers from beginning a lifelong tobacco habit. It will also help to decrease the number of cancers caused by tobacco usage, currently estimated at 30%,” said Carolyn Aldigé, Prevent Cancer Foundation president and founder.
As the use of e-cigarettes increases and the tobacco industry finds new ways to target their products towards children, we hope that the FDA continues to monitor the industry and provide strong regulations to protect youth. By limiting tobacco usage, we can Stop Cancer Before It Starts!™
