EU’s highest court upholds new restrictive law on cigarettes

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published long-awaited rules Thursday that could ban 99 percent of e-cigarette products and wreck industry innovation for years to come. That year, U.S. President Barack Obama signed the Family Control Act, a law that gave the agency authority over cigarettes, smokeless and roll-your-own tobacco products. Congress gave the FDA authority to oversee tobacco products in 2009, but until now the agency had not finalized rules to regulate e-cigarettes and cigars.

E-cigarette products can not be sold to anybody under the age of 18, and a photo ID is required for purchase.

In addition, the FDA is generally requiring manufacturers whose products went on sale after February 15, 2007, to get approval from the agency to continue selling their products.

But Benard Dreyer, present of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said the “FDA passed up critical opportunities in this rule by failing the prohibit the sale of tobacco products coming in flavors like cotton candy, gummy bear and grape”. Down the road, there may also be nicotine warnings and child-resistant packaging.

“We have more to do to help protect Americans from the dangers of tobacco and nicotine, especially our youth”.

A preliminary rule was issued in 2014, resulting in more than 135,000 public comments, an FDA spokesman said.

“Today’s action marks a new chapter in the FDA’s efforts to end preventable tobacco-related disease and death and is a milestone in consumer protection”, the FDA said in a news release.

E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that turn nicotine into an inhalable liquid vapour.

E-cigarette use has skyrocketed among teens over the last five years; a recent survey showed use increased among high-schoolers from 1.5% to 16% between 2011 and 2015, with about 3 million middle- and high-schoolers reporting e-cigarette use in 2015.

Donal Buggy, Head of Services and Advocacy at the Irish Cancer Society said: “Big tobacco knows that plain packaging, as a health measure, works, and are doing everything to prevent its introduction because they need to recruit 50 new smokers every day in Ireland to replace those dying and quitting”.

The Vapor Technology Association said the FDA’s regulations will put a roadblock in the way of an industry that has helped people stop smoking.

“All cigars pose serious negative health risks”, said Zeller.

Now, makers of these products have two years to disclose to the FDA ‘important factors such as ingredients, product design and health risks, as well as their appeal to youth and non-users, ‘ according to the 499-page FDA rule. The FDA sent its final proposed ruling to the White House for review last fall, and its initial proposal was drafted in 2014.

‘The cost and burdens of onerous regulations threaten the entire industry’. There?s no legal age minimum for e-cigarettes in Colorado, and growing health concern that so-called?vaping? of nicotine is growing among kids has made Colorado the latest state to consider age requirements for the nicotine devices popping up at mall kiosks and convenience stores.

The FDA said it will also control the “parts” and “components” of tobacco.