U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg told senators at a Congressional budget hearing today that a proposed rule that would establish FDA authority over e-cigarettes should be ready for release “very soon,â€Â Reuters reports.
Currently, the proposal is being examined by the White House’s Office of Management and Budget to assess its potential economic impact.
Public health advocates and lawmakers have been pressing for regulations since the products came on the market as an alternative to traditional cigarettes.
“Four years and four months to get the first draft over to OMB is unacceptable,†Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon says.
Hamburg told senators that criticism of the FDA’s slow response to establish regulations is fair.
“I do believe that very soon I will be able to call you, and say the deeming rule is out,†she said.
The FDA isn’t exactly known for its swiftness. In 1977, the agency proposed a ban on penicillin and other antibiotics in farm animals. It wasn’t until 35 years later and a court order that the agency got around to seriously considering that proposal.
Since 2009, the FDA has had authority to regulate cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and roll-your-own tobacco, as well as the power to deem other tobacco product within its jurisdiction.
Still, e-cigarette companies believe they should be exempt from FDA regulations, contending it would stifle innovation, damage small business and hurt consumer trying to quite smoking.
Those in favor of regulations say the delay presents a risk to children who may be attracted to the product’s sweet flavors.
Last month, the New York Times explored one of the deadliest attributes e-cigarettes pose: liquid nitrogen. When ingested or absorbed even small amounts of the toxin could prove deadly.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a new report [PDF] today that show the number of calls to poison centers involving e-cigarette liquid containing nicotine rose from one per month in September 2010 to 215 per month in February 2014.
“We do feel that this in an area that requires greater attention, action and concern,†Hamburg says of the increased poisonings.
E-cig rule coming ‘very soon,’ U.S. FDA chief says [Reuters]
Can’t happen soon enough. E cigs should fall under the same law as regular tobacco as long as it has nicotine in and remains a health risk.
Alcohol is still alcohol regardless of the amout contained in the chosen delivery system.
You have a really good point. I hadn’t really thought much about the e-cigs, but that does seem to be a sensible way to deal with them.
Cool, let’s start regulating caffeine and sugar too. We’re already going down that road with fat. Why not regulate every aspect of everything a human being could decide to do with himself that could be detrimental to his/her health, especially considering the government now thinks it’s responsible for all our health?
Seems perfectly sensible….if you’re a fascist, err, excuse me, “liberal”.
The side effects of caffeine;
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002445.htm
The side effect of nicotine;
http://www.drugs.com/sfx/nicotine-side-effects.html
The dangers of cigarettes were the carcinogens and other nastiness of burning tobacco with the help of additives added by the makers. So here you have a delivery system eliminating all those additives and carcinogens. Still it is not enough for “them”.
I can’t wait till Indiana legalizes pot. Some claim it makes you smarter and I look forward to legally someday have the same level of insight but most importantly the reflexive and total unconcern that I have the right to tell you what to do. It is after all for your own good because my belly button lint says so.
No need to change terms, fascist and liberal, and I might even add progressive are all one in the same. Funny how these types decry autocratic or dictatorial control of their own lives and actions but relish and take great glee of doing the same to others.
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