FDA Says it Had 'Constructive' Meetings with e-Cigarette Manufacturers on Teen Epidemic
The Food and Drug Administration has had "constructive" meetings with e-cigarette manufacturers since instructing them to fix "epidemic" levels of teen nicotine use, Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said Wednesday.
The FDA last month ordered five manufacturers — Juul, British American Tobacco's Vuse, Altria's MarkTen, Imperial Brands' Blu E-cigs and Japan Tobacco's Logic — to submit plans within 60 days on reducing teen use. The five companies represent about 97 percent of the e-cigarette market, according to the FDA.
Preliminary federal data show the amount of high school students using e-cigarettes surged 77 percent this year, prompting the agency to take action.
Since then, Gottlieb said he has met with executives from each company and they presented "thoughtful" proposals on steps the companies and the agency can take to curb youth use.
"The companies acknowledged the role that flavored e-cigarette products play in appealing to kids, as well as the role that flavored e-cigarettes can also play in helping adult smokers quit," he said in a statement.