FDA Proposes First Rules for E-Cigarettes

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced its first proposed regulations for electronic cigarettes. They include a ban on sales to minors. But the FDA decided not to ban e-cigarette advertising, online sales or flavored products at this time. The new proposed rules also would provide the first federal rules covering cigars, pipe tobacco, nicotine gels and water-pipe (hookah) tobacco. E-cigarettes would be available to adults age 18 or older. People would have to show an ID to make the purchase. Vending machine sales would be allowed only in places that do not allow minors. Manufacturers of products that were not on the market by February 25, 2007, will have to apply for an FDA review. The industry and the public will have 75 days to comment on the proposed rules. Then the FDA will review those comments and issue final rules.