New Regulations on A New Kind of Cigarette

The Article For E-Cigarettes, the Regulatory Battle Now Begin by Sabrina Tavernise and Berry Meier published in the New York times on April 24, 2014, discusses the new F.D.A. focus on electronic cigarettes. E-cigarettes are a fast-growing industry which thus far has had little regulation.

The new F.D.A. proposed rules would allow the government more authority over e-cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco and other products. The big focus, electronic cigarettes is somewhat mysterious. Not much is understood about these electronic gadgets concerning health risks as they haven’t been around long enough.  They are proposed as a ‘healthier alternative to smoking’ because instead of actual smoke the battery at the end of the tube heats the liquid nicotine, which creates vapor that gets inhaled into the lungs. The excess cigarette vapor is emitted from the tail of the e-cigarette which helps uphold the illusion of real smoke.

While it is a step in the right direction, “the road map put off until later almost all of the trickiest issues, like whether flavors should be banned or television advertising limited.” Companies fight for the right to advertise without many restrictions and continually produce flavors used to lure children as well as adults. “The biggest issues may not be confronted for years. Companies will have two years after the new regulations go into effect to file applications to the F.D.A. for approval of their products. The regulation itself could take a year or two to go into effect, as the agency will have to sort through tens of thousands of public comments, including from industry. Then there is the chance that companies will sue, which would add even more time to the process.”

At the moment however, the biggest concern is just to put some regulation on a rapidly evolving market with no regulation at all. For the first time there will be a science-based agency watching over the function playing ‘gate keeper’. “It’s a step forward — but it’s not a giant step,” said Gary A. Giovino, a professor of health behavior at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York.

It is without a doubt a step in the right direction, however one can wonder whether the changes will come fast enough. The regulation being put into effect will take years to be put in place, years that could risk more smoking addictions in adults as well as our next generation. The regulations also won’t be addressing flavored cigarettes and other ploys to draw in a younger audience any time soon. It’s like getting a foot in the door, but the door won’t budge anymore. We’re getting closer, but not close enough yet.