FDA Proposes Regulations for E-Cigarettes Following the Actions of State Governments

After inaction and indecision for years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will finally propose their regulations for electronic cigarettes following multiple requests from various states' attorneys general in regards to the product's harmful effects.

The administration previously attempted to regulate the popular e-cigarettes, but it was shot down in court. Their new regulations include: a ban on the sale to minors; outlawing the distribution of free samples; forbidding the product's sale in vending machines in places where minors can be admitted; making it a requirement that the e-cigarette companies both warn customers that the product contains nicotine and disclose the ingredients it contains.

The regulations are expected become final after a 75-day comment period for which the FDA can receive any further input. After the 75-day period, some of the provisions will go into effect (such as those involving health benefits/harms) and all other provisions will take two years before becoming active.

"The regulations mark a "historic day for the FDA and for public health," said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg. The new rules "will make a real and enduring difference" and prevent the youth from suffering "a lifetime of nicotine addiction," she added, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Another important aspect of the regulations is that any new e-cigarettes would require FDA-approval before being sold, which is significant because the amount of e-cigarettes that have entered the market since their introduction has been unabated. The ubiquitous nature of these electronic cigarettes caused the whole health issue since teens began aggressively smoking them and a substantial amount of people using them have been unable to kick their tobacco habit, which is what the product is marketed to do.

These regulations could cost the e-cigarette companies as well as the tobacco companies a lot of money. Altria Group Inc. began testing its new e-cigarette last year and spent $110 million a few months ago to acquire an e-cigarette startup called Green Smoke Inc.

Based on the requests of governors and attorneys general across the U.S., these regulations are likely to pass.