After almost 4 years of studying electronic cigarettes, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) late yesterday reported it is ready to release new regulations. These new sweeping measures will allow the FDA to impose rules for the electronic cigarettes, a multi-billion dollar business that is still growing.
The electronic devices have been a popular yet controversial form of "smoking" for over a year, since they are not currently regulated as traditional cigarette or cigar or pipe smoking is now by the FDA.
Currently, there are about 40 - 43 million smokers in the United States.
Numerous smokers have switched to the e-cigarettes, which emit a vapor and not smoke.
But these devices deliver nicotine, and anyone no matter their age is able to purchase them currently.
The new regulations will address the age of consumers, and set it as a minimum of 18. Customers must show a photo ID, and the new measures will also include pipe tobacco and cigars.
One troubling aspect of the new FDA regulations, however, is the 100 plus report being released. With so much red tape involved, and a multi-billion dollar business at stake, expect an onslaught of lobbyists and advertising that will try to stall and diminish these efforts.
Already some of the smoke-free groups established as part of numerous trade organizations are setting up meetings with congress to pitch their free trade ideas.
Although these new FDA rules were sent out Wednesday to the press, we were not allowed to discuss them until today, since the formal release of the FDA documents occurred late yesterday.
Some of the new rulings include the following: all e-device producers must now give the FDA a list of their ingredients; how they manufacture these e-devices and even any studies done on the e-devices.
The e-cigarettes are popular not only due to their lack of traditional smoke, but also for their fun, often sweet tasting vapors. You can, for example, puff on a bubble gum flavor, or all kinds of fruit tinged e-devices.
As per the cigar regulations proposed, some of the many new FDA ideas are sure to anger anti-cigar smoke citizens, since one controversial idea is to allow cigars to be placed in a non FDA category, effectively giving free reign in many cases to this booming industry.
Whether or not these e-cigarettes are dangerous or harmless is still not
proven. Some experts warn these devices are not safe, and will encourage more people and especially children to take up smoking, while others believe they help people stop smoking.
The full report will be offered in this paper soon, with a separate commentary.
Updates to follow.
