USA seeks ban on e-cigarettes

A coalition of 31 US states and territories, led by New York, is pushing the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to impose strict regulations on flavoured e-cigarettes.

Not only does the group want to ban e-cigarettes with "youth appealing" flavors such as candy, mint and menthol, but it also wants to limit nicotine levels and crack down on marketing efforts aimed at children.

The Coalition hopes to prevent what it calls a "youth nicotine epidemic." About 19.6 percent of high school students in 2020 said they have used e-cigarettes at least once in the past 30 days, according to a study published in the National Library of Medicine.

The Alliance also points to the effects of nicotine on children's brains, including the risk of addiction, as well as mental health problems and addiction.

The Pressure Campaign follows a sweeping state-level crackdown on e-cigarettes, especially in New York. The state not only banned flavored cigarettes in late 2019, but also condemned one manufacturer for "deceptive and misleading" marketing that promoted the bad habit among young people.

States that are part of the coalition are likely to get their way. The Food and Drug Administration will reportedly decide to ban e-cigarettes and oral nicotine by September 9.

Source: engadget