US: FDA to Enforce Tougher E-cigarette Laws

Source from:  NBC Montana 06/08/2016

Tougher e-cigarette regulations are set to go into effect Wednesday.

The FDA is trying to keep e-cigarettes out of the hands of minors. Officials say the small, brightly colored packages attract minors.

"They're packaged in a way that, I mean, the colors with the scheming and the designs on them attracts more younger kids," said a Missoula teenager.

According to Montana's 2015 risk behavior survey, 50 percent of high schoolers have tried e-cigarettes.

The new regulations will make false advertising and giving free samples illegal.

False advertising includes claims like e-cigarettes have health benefits, they can be used legally nearly everywhere. The most common false advertisement is that e-smoking can help people quit smoking tobacco.

"When it comes to whether it's a smoking cessation aid, it's not considered a proven smoking cessation aid by the FDA, so right now it's hard to promote it as a quit method," said senior community health specialist Kaila Warren.

The FDA says the new rules do not prohibit sweet flavors of e-cigarettes, which are said to attract minors.

The manager at Mellow Mood says she sees more adults buy sweet flavors.

"Older people really like the sweet flavors though, people that are 60-plus that are trying to quit (smoking) find the sweet flavors very satisfying," said Jennifer Rol.

The Missoula City-County Health Department says the new rules are a step in the right direction.

If you'd like to quit smoking but do not know how, find out how to get help here. Enditem