FDA Must Act to Protect Youth, Eliminate All Flavored Tobacco Products

Statement of American Lung Association National President and CEO Harold P. Wimmer, in response to the Food and Drug Administration’s advance notice of proposed rulemaking on regulating flavors in tobacco products: 

"Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released an advance notice of proposed rulemaking seeking information to inform possible FDA action on removing flavored tobacco products from the marketplace. The American Lung Association urges swift action from the FDA to end the sale of flavored products – including menthol cigarettes – all of which attract and then hook kids on tobacco products.  

"In the fall of 2015, the FDA sent its final ‘deeming’ rule proposal, which gave the agency oversight over all e-cigarettes, cigars, hookah and other unregulated products, to the White House for final interagency review and approval. In it, FDA ordered all flavored e-cigarettes, cigars and other newly regulated tobacco products from the marketplace by November of 2016. The Obama Administration made a grievous misstep by removing that key provision – leaving these flavored products on the market indefinitely. This move has placed the health of our youth at risk of a lifetime of addiction and disease.  

"The science was clear then and is even more clear now: candy- and fruit-flavored products attract youth to e-cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products and should not be sold. 

"The American Lung Association looks forward to submitting comments in response to this notice and urges FDA and the Trump Administration to move forward without delay."