The Food and Drug Administration has announced that it will attempt to start imposing its first e-cigarette regulations and post the new rule online Thursday at 9 a.m. The task is far from being the same as controlling traditional analogue tobacco products and might be difficult to complete. Obvious advantages such as banning the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors under the age of 18 are first on the list. All electronic cigarette makers will need to apply for full FDA approval of their product lines.
The electronic cig market has blown in the last few years into a billion dollar industry. The quick growth was not foreseen and millions of smokers in America made the switch to e-cigs and the growth will only continue. The issue remains with misuse of the product and we expect to see the FDA regulate things such as child-proof e-liquid bottles for safety concerns over banning vaping as a dangerous practice, or at least we hope.
It will take time before all new requirements are accepted and enforced. The new rule allows for 75 days of public commenting, after which the FDA will analyze them for an undetermined period of time. If the rule is approved, it will take a minimum of 1 month before it starts taking effect as well.
What Changes We Should Expect From FDA’s New E-Cig Regulations
Certain changes to come with the new electronic cigarette rule are banning of sales to minors including sales of electronic cigarettes or related products in vending machines, unless they are located on an adult only business premise, such as a bar or casino.
All manufacturers will have to disclose ingredient lists and processes and will have to work with the FDA for a 2 year period to fully comply. In the same time period, electronic cigarette brands will have to display health warnings regarding the use of nicotine and addiction only. None of the tobacco smoking induced disease warnings would be required, of course.
More changes will come into effect with time and this is where the future of electronic cigarette prices loom. If the FDA decides to enforce strong regulations, it can drive prices up. We have no idea of what will come of this and can’t jump to conclusions. We can only hope for the best and that the FDA finally helps regulate and ensure safety around e-cigarette usage.
What Changes We Should Not Expect From FDA’s New E-Cig Regulations
The FDA has already announced that it is not interested in banning electronic cigarette ads on television or online. Additionally, manufacturers will continue to be allowed to sell online. E-Cigarette flavors will still be allowed, unlike candy flavored tobacco cigarettes. But as we just mentioned, we should not expect the new rules to remain the same either. More changes are bound to happen as they go along for the next two years or so.
The Food and Drug Administration has already been conducting various tests on electronic cigarettes, therefore this new rule proposal is a start, a foundation to what is to come. Not a start to testing products to determine safety. This is somewhat good news, meaning we are not dealing with a square one phase situation, and this may help finally clear electronic cigarette usage as being a bad thing in mainstream media.