FDA Unveils Long-Awaited E-Cig Regs

Edited by Jeffrey D. Knowles and Gary D. Hailey

FDA Unveils Long-Awaited E-Cig Regs

Today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released sweeping proposed regulations that will extend the agency's oversight to the multi-billion dollar electronic cigarette industry and other tobacco products not covered by the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. 

Under the proposed rules, items that meet the statutory definition of a "tobacco product" but are not already under the FDA's authority, such as electronic cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, nicotine gels, and waterpipe (or hookah) tobacco would be "deemed" subject to FDA regulation. The FDA currently regulates cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco, and smokeless tobacco.