The Attorneys General of 41 states have banded to together, asking that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issue regulations for e-cigarettes by the end of October.
Currently, the FDA has no authority to regulate e-cigarettes, pipe tobacco or cigars. They only have authority over cigarettes, cigarette tobacco and roll-your-own tobacco. The FDA must issue new regulations before it can widen its reach over all tobacco products, Reuters reports.
A letter was presented to the FDA by the Attorneys General that contained statistics regarding e-cigarettes. It stated that sales of e-cigarettes have doubled every year since 2008, sales are projected to reach $1.7 billion this year alone.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a study which found that the use of e-cigarettes among middle and high schools students doubled from 2011 to 2012. Last year, 10 percent of high school students tried an e-cigarette, double from the previous year.
Producers of e-cigarettes have lowered the price of the devices, which is thought to make them more appealing to young people. As of late, there are no federal age restrictions on e-cigarettes and there are no advertising restrictions either, according to the letter.
“Consumers are led to believe that e-cigarettes are a safe alternative to cigarettes, despite the fact that they are addictive, and there is no regulatory oversight ensuring the safety of the ingredients in e-cigarettes.”
Last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics sent a letter to President Obama, asking him to pressure the FDA.
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