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FDA Ban On E-Cigarettes Sales To Teens Under 18 Starts Today

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—The sale of e-cigarettes to minors will be banned starting today, in ordinance with a new ruling by the FDA.

The new rule—which was finalized back in May--will affect those trying to buy e-cigarettes under the age of 18.

"The rule will also allow the FDA to evaluate the ingredients in these additional tobacco products, how the products are made and their potential impact on public health," said Dr. Robert Califf, FDA commissioner.

RELATEDFDA To Ban E-Cigarettes Sales To Teens Under 18

This historic regulation allows the FDA to improve public health and protect future generations from the dangers of tobacco use through a variety of steps, including restricting the sale of these tobacco products to minors nationwide

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE RULE:

  • Not allowing products to be sold to persons under the age of 18 years (both in person and online);
  • Requiring age verification by photo ID;
  • Not allowing the selling of covered tobacco products in vending machines (unless in an adult-only facility); and
  • Not allowing the distribution of free samples.

The rules also cover other alternative forms of tobacco like cigars, hookah tobacco and pipe tobacco.

"This final rule is a foundational step that enables the FDA to regulate products young people were using at alarming rates, like e-cigarettes, cigars and hookah tobacco, that had gone largely unregulated," said Mitch Zeller, J.D., director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products. "The agency considered a number of factors in developing the rule and believes our approach is reasonable and balanced. Ultimately our job is to assess what's happening at the population level before figuring out how to use all of the regulatory tools Congress gave the FDA."

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