icon_healthThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued their final rule on regulating e-cigarettes, which goes into effect today. With this new rule, the FDA will be able to review new tobacco products entering the market, prevent misguided claims from product manufacturers, inform the public of potential risks on these products, and evaluate how these products are made and what ingredients are included in manufacturing.

The FDA also set forth provisions and requirements in the final rule that apply to all manufacturers. The final rule will include the following:

  • Not allowing products to be sold to persons under the age of 18 years (both in-person and online)
  • Requiring age verification by photo ID
  • Placing health warnings on product packages and advertisements
  • Not allowing the selling of tobacco products in vending machines (unless in an adult-only facility)
  • Not allowing the distribution of free samples
  • Registering manufacturing establishments and providing product listings to the FDA
  • Reporting ingredients, and harmful and potentially harmful constituents
  • Requiring premarket review and authorization of new tobacco products by the FDA
  • Not selling modified risk tobacco products (including those described as “light,” “low,” or “mild”) unless authorized by the FDA

The new rule allows a 3-year grace period for manufacturers, vendors, and distributors to be in compliance. The warning label requirement goes into effect in May of 2018.

These new regulations have the potential to produce positive outcomes for youth, such as fewer tobacco purchases by teenagers and a greater awareness among adults about keeping tobacco products away from children.