US bans fruit flavors in pre-filled tanks and raises age limit on e-cigs
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking strong action to curb e-cigarette use among young people in the US. The age limit for buying tobacco and e-liquid is now raised to 21 years and flavors in e-cigs are restricted. This means that in the future, pre-filled tanks (pods) can only contain tobacco flavors and menthol. The law will apply from February 2020.
"We are banning fruit and candy flavors. Then e-cigarettes will become less desirable for young people," Health Minister Azar told CNBC news
As mentioned, the ban only applies to pre-filled tanks. These are closed systems, known as pods, and not the majority of products that usually sold in vejpshops.
"Vape shoppers can keep more of their flavored e-liquids and are important public health. Thousands of former smokers will not have to return to cigarettes", writes Michael Siegel, Professor of Public Health at Boston University.
Nicotine strength more important than taste
Michael Siegel believes that young people are attracted to e-cigs primarily by the high nicotine strengths, not the flavors. The fact that flavors matter less is also confirmed by CDC's own studies with explanations such as 'curiosity' and 'family and friends using them' coming higher on the list of reasons why young people tried e-cigarettes.
There is currently no upper limit for nicotine content in the US. In European countries, where EU legislation only allows 20 mg/ml, there is not as widespread among young people eithersays Michael Siegel. Nicotine levels of up to 60 mg/ml put young people at risk of becoming unnecessarily addicted to nicotine, he says.
"Unfortunately, this proposal will not curb use among young people. This will only lead them to switch to the allowed flavors and continue vejpa. The FDA should focus on the nicotine, rather than the flavors. That is where the problem lies. Flavor bans are only policies to appease certain anti-vejp groups and they are not justified by promoting public health. If governments want to reduce vejp use among young people, they need to focus on the nicotine, not the flavors" writes Michael Siegel.
