FDA faces pressure to release final e-cigarette flavor policy

CNN — In a letter, a lawmaker is urging the US Food and Drug Administration to issue its compliance policy that would clear the market of unauthorized flavored e-cigarettes. The letter follows President Donald Trump’s September 11 announcement that the FDA would be putting out “some very strong recommendations” regarding the use of flavored e-cigarettes in “a couple of weeks.” When that announcement was made, US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said that it would take “several weeks” to put out final guidance on the policy, which would see “all flavored e-cigarettes other than tobacco flavor” removed from the market. In an email on Tuesday, an FDA spokesman said the agency will respond directly to Krishnamoorthi, that it intends to finalize its compliance policy “in the coming weeks” and that the FDA “plans to share more on the specific details of the plan and its implementation soon.”‎ “The FDA remains committed to our oversight of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, and to keeping all tobacco products out of the hands of youth. The companies making these products, the retailers selling them, and the online venues that help to fuel the teen popularity of, and access to, these products must redouble efforts to follow the law and not sell or market to kids.” Walmart has stopped selling e-cigarettes and several retailers have announced plans to restrict the sale of flavored vapes, with critics saying the flavors target young people and get youth hooked on nicotine. Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said “This announcement shows why the Trump Administration must stand up to pressure from Juul and Altria and move forward with its plan to remove all flavored e-cigarettes from the market, including mint and menthol – as the Administration said it would do in its September 11 announcement.” American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown also said last week that “Congress and the administration should move forward without delay to remove all flavored e-cigarettes, including mint and menthol, from the market.” Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team.