Health groups call on FDA not to allow sale of flavored vaping products

In the United States, six health groups[1] Call on FDA to Ban Sale of Flavored Vaping Products, Demand Rigorous Scientific Evidence demonstrating that a product will benefit public health before authorising its sale, as well as a rapid withdrawal of products that do not meet the market authorisation deadline of 9 September.

As makers of e-cigarettes and some other tobacco products face a September 9, 2020 deadline,[2] In a joint statement to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asking for permission to keep their products on the market, six leading medical and public health organizations have urged the FDA not to allow the sale of any flavored products. The request comes in response to overwhelming evidence of flavored product use by children that has led to the current vaping epidemic in North America, but also the lack of scientific evidence that these flavors help smokers quit.

To determine whether a product will actually benefit public health, the FDA should require manufacturers to provide rigorous scientific evidence, including:

• Data that the product does not deliver nicotine at levels that increase the risk of abuse and addiction in youth (A Juul refill, for example, provides as much nicotine, if not more, than a pack of 20 cigarettes);
• Sufficient evidence to establish that the product will be used primarily by smokers who wish to quit and will not induce young people and adults who do not use nicotine to start;
• Specific evidence to assess the product's impact on vulnerable populations and health disparities;

The September 9 deadline applies to tobacco products that are very popular with children. From 2017 to 2019, e-cigarette use more than doubled among U.S. high school students (from 11.7% to 27.5%), according to the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey.[3]More than 5.3 million children used e-cigarettes in 2019, an increase of more than 3 million in two years.

Cigars also remain popular with kids. In 2019, more high school students smoked cigars than cigarettes (7.6% vs. 5.8%), and smoking was particularly high among black high school students at 12.3%. Both e-cigarettes and cigars come in a wide variety of flavors that appeal to kids.

Adaptation and translation of the press release from Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Keywords: FDA, vaping, United States

©Generation Without Tobacco

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[1] The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and Truth Initiative. [2] https://www.generationsanstabac.org/actualites/juul-demande-lautorisation-de-la-fda-pour-poursuivre-sa-commercialisation/ [3] Wang TW, Gentzke AS, Creamer MR, et al. Tobacco Product Use and Associated Factors Among Middle and High School Students — United States, 2019. MMWR Surveill Summ 2019;68(No. SS-12):1–22. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss6812a1external icon National Committee Against Smoking |