Health & Wellbeing

Trump moves to ban flavored e-cigarette products across the US

Trump moves to ban flavored e-cigarette products across the US
A Trump administration announcement tasks the FDA with enforcing guidelines that restrict the sale of unapproved flavored e-cigarettes, effectively banning the products in the United States
A Trump administration announcement tasks the FDA with enforcing guidelines that restrict the sale of unapproved flavored e-cigarettes, effectively banning the products in the United States
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A Trump administration announcement tasks the FDA with enforcing guidelines that restrict the sale of unapproved flavored e-cigarettes, effectively banning the products in the United States
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A Trump administration announcement tasks the FDA with enforcing guidelines that restrict the sale of unapproved flavored e-cigarettes, effectively banning the products in the United States

Amid the ongoing e-cigarette health crisis in the United States, the Trump administration has announced a plan to effectively remove all non-tobacco-flavored e-cigarette products from the market. The prospective policy suggests accelerating enforcement of FDA rules already in place that demand premarket authorization for non-tobacco-flavored e-cigarette products.

In an unexpected Oval Office event, President Trump revealed the new plan, alongside first lady Melania Trump, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, and acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless.

“Vaping has become a very big business, as I understand it. Like, a giant business. In a very short period of time,” said Trump. “But we can’t allow people to get sick and we can’t have our youth be so affected. And I’m hearing it, and that’s how the first lady got involved. She’s got a son, together, that is a beautiful young man and she feels very, very strongly about it. She’s seen it, and we’re both reading it. A lot of people are reading it, but people are dying from vaping. So we’re looking at it very closely.”

In an accompanying FDA statement, it is suggested details of this potential ban will be revealed in the coming weeks. But the agency specifies only flavored e-cigarette products containing nicotine will be the focus for enforcement in the near future.

The new proposal rolls on from a 2016 amendment to the Tobacco Control Act requiring all e-cigarette products to file premarket tobacco product applications with the FDA. In 2017 the compliance deadline for e-cigarette products to submit applications was pushed back to 2022. This delay is what spurred the city of San Francisco to institute its own e-cigarette ban, set to commence in 2020.

The focus of the latest move by the Trump administration seems solely focused on combating the increasing use of e-cigarettes by teenagers. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar specifically notes flavored e-cigarettes as a problematic gateway for young people into nicotine addiction.

“The Trump administration is making it clear that we intend to clear the market of flavored e-cigarettes to reverse the deeply concerning epidemic of youth e-cigarette use that is impacting children, families, schools and communities,” says Azar. “We will not stand idly by as these products become an on-ramp to combustible cigarettes or nicotine addiction for a generation of youth.”

While it is clear that tobacco-flavored e-cigarette liquids and devices will be exempt from any upcoming ban or regulation, many details surrounding the proposed policy are yet to be clarified. And while Trump ostensibly refers to the ongoing public health problem surrounding e-cigarettes as part of his motivation in pushing the regulations, no singular cause has yet been identified to explain the increasing number of vaping-related hospitalizations. In fact, current suspicions as to the cause seem to be homing in on illicit THC vaping liquids containing unregulated chemical additives, suggesting a simple ban on e-cig flavors may not have any effect on the acute crisis currently unfolding.

Source: FDA

10 comments
10 comments
Syberz
But cigarettes are still Ok though, right? It's not like they haven't been making people sick or killing them for the last 100 years or anything.
anthony88
US Constitution needs a new amendment protecting the right to breathe coloured and flavoured liquid vapours. (Yes, my spelling uses Australian English.)
piperTom
Since we don't know what is causing the problem.... you have to ban something, right?
Wolf0579
Trump only got around to it, AFTER A GIRL DID IT FIRST!
Expanded Viewpoint
Just another knee jerk reaction to a problem because no one in any pretended position of power and authority was smart enough to see this coming down the road. But I did!! I mentioned more than once that the e-cigs are going to be every bit as bad, if not even worse, than burning tobacco ones! And now, here we are, with another health crisis on our hands. But I say yes to making the most use of it as we can. Document how e-cigs can change someone's life for the worse, and if someone wants to destroy their body after being fully informed, then let them! It's just a bit more Chlorine in the shallow end of the gene pool.

Randy
Paul Muad'Dib
Don’t worry mom and dad your teenagers will still be able to get underground JUULpods!
Rkt9
Yeah but it is okay to keep fracking, burning coal, and other fossil fuels. I smoked for almost 50 years, I tried several methods to quit, but always started again. I vaped for 2 year and lowered my dose progressively over a period of 2 year, and finally quit and have been nicotine free for over a year now. Flavored vape helped me get there. I am eternally grateful for it.
WalterBoehme
So the most important fact on this article is left to the very last sentence. Good job. I'd been smoking for around 50 years. Tried to quit a number of times, nothing worked. First time I tried vaping - a menthol flavor - I gave up cigarettes and have not gone back to smoking. Doctor is happy. House and clothes don't smell like an ashtray anymore. However, I have tried the tobacco flavored e-liquids and they taste terrible. Hope they at least keep the menthol flavor.
buzzclick
Been vaping for the last few years, but I still smoke regular cigs. I never was a heavy smoker so that still applies. I like the "fresh tobacco" juice, but in a sense, it's just like other flavors, right? You know what happens when you blow cigarette smoke to the face of a dog or any other animal, like, they freakout. I did an experiment when my cat was sitting on my desk facing away from me. I blew a waft of vape smoke that enveloped him. Nothing.
Paul Muad'Dib
Man, we are going to have some really really great tasting tobacco flavored juice here very soon!