Physical Wellness

FDA Sets New Rules On E-Cigarettes: How Vaping Regulations Changed

By George Houston | Update Date: May 06, 2016 05:52 AM EDT

Last Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration extended its coverage of restrictions which now cover electronic cigarettes. According to CNN, e-cigarettes along with premium cigars, little cigars, pipe tobacco, and hookahs will be controlled in the same manner as the FDA controls traditional cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

Sylvia Burwell, Secretary of Health and Human Services and Dr. Robert Califf, FDA Commissioner in a joint statement said: "This action is a milestone in consumer protection -- going forward, the FDA will be able to review new tobacco products not yet on the market, help prevent misleading claims by tobacco product manufacturers, evaluate the ingredients of tobacco products and how they are made, and communicate the potential risks of tobacco products."

The new regulations also mean that the government can have a say in what goes into the products. Until recently, cigarette manufacturers were all mum about what you are really drawing in from their merchandise thus this will provide better stipulations that will aid to shelter the public health.

Importantly this new rule will broaden its scope on "vaping" as the broadening scope of definition will cut off sale of e-cigarettes to children. Professor Ellen Hahn of the University of Kentucky College of Nursing who is also the co-chair of the UK Tobacco-free Task Force mentioned to The Wall Street Journal that this recent ruling is a springboard to finally control e-cigarettes.

"From a health perspective, to reduce the social acceptance of them is good because frankly, it's the wild, wild West out there. Vape stores are everywhere." Hahn stern fully mentioned that this social practice of "vaping" can be the onset for kids to get hooked on nicotine and be likely extend the rise of tobacco usage.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, e-cigarette use among high school students has been rising steadily from 1.5% in 2011 to 16% in 2015. Federal health officials estimate that about 3 million middle and high school students use e-cigarettes. 

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