It’s been over four years since the Food and Drug Administration declared a ban on all flavored e-cigarettes. However, these vape pens are still available for purchase at local smoke shops and online stores, making it easy for teenagers to access them.
Concerned about the lack of enforcement, Congress is now urging the FDA to take more proactive measures.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is conducting a hearing with the head of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, which oversees tobacco regulation and sales. Various stakeholders, including a Department of Justice representative, anti-smoking advocates, and others, are expected to provide insights.
While nicotine products are prohibited for individuals under 21, the most recent National Youth Tobacco Survey revealed that 2.8 million high school and middle school students use tobacco, with about 70% consuming flavored e-cigarettes like ElfBars.
Stacey Younger Gagosian, the senior vice president for public policy at the Truth Initiative, highlighted that teenagers today may be unaware of the high nicotine content in the products they are using.
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The FDA is responsible for approving nicotine products in the U.S. Only 23 e-cigarette products have been authorized so far, none of which are flavored.
Younger Gagosian emphasized that while these authorized products may benefit adult smokers, other unauthorized products, especially those favored by young people, have not proven to be helpful.
