FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Arnice Cottom, 202-777-3913
Statement from APHA Executive Director Georges C. Benjamin, MD
Washington, D.C., Jan. 2, 2020 – "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s decision today to allow sales of flavored electronic cigarettes to continue is a let-down for public health.
“While FDA announced that it will be stepping up enforcement against certain e-cigarette products, others will remain on the market, putting the health of U.S. youth at risk.
“This policy falls far too short. If we truly want to reduce the growing number of youth who are using e-cigarettes, we need to ban all flavored tobacco products, including menthol.
“Though we laud FDA’s plan to require e-cigarette manufacturers to submit premarket applications for their products — including those already being sold — to the agency by May 12, the decision to continue sales in the meantime is deeply flawed.
“According to the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey, more than 5 million youth U.S. say they used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, with nearly 1 million reporting daily use. A third of youth say they use the products because of flavors.
“To state it simply, this new FDA policy does not go far enough to protect U.S. youth. As long as flavored e-cigarettes are on the market, children will find a way to access them.
“APHA will continue to urge Congress and the administration to address this public health crisis and completely remove all forms of flavored e-cigarettes from every retail and online outlet. Our children deserve no less.”
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The American Public Health Association champions the health of all people and all communities. We are the only organization that combines a nearly 150-year perspective, a broad-based member community and the ability to influence federal policy to improve the public’s health. Learn more at www.apha.org.