Electronic cigarettes inevitably placed under tobacco regulation by Feds

Electronic Cigarettes Placed Under Tobacco Regulation

Electronic cigarettes are gaining popularity in many parts of the world and that has some health experts including the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration concerned about the health impact the products may bring to masses.

There has been an ongoing debate on whether to regulate electronic cigarettes just like traditional tobacco products or drug-delivery devices which are subject to more scrutiny.

In an announcement made Monday, the FDA said it will consider e-cigarettes as a tobacco product. But no timetable has been set on when new changes will take effect.

The federal health agency said electronic cigarettes which are "marketed for therapeutic purposes" such as a smoking-cessation aid, will still be regulated as drug delivery devices.

Established manufacturers of e-cigarettes have lauded the decision by the FDA because it will help expose dubious products in the market.

Electronic cigarettes are devices that look like the real thing but instead of smoke from burning like in real cigarettes, they emit a vapor from a cartridge. Makers of the products say the devices help smokers wean off nicotine and quit smoking.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that up to 46 million Americans smoke cigarettes with almost half having the intention to quit.

E-cigarettes first hit the U.S. market in 2006 after being introduced much earlier in other countries. The global market for the products has exploded in recent years and has become a lucrative business.

The popularity drew the attention of the FDA which has since tested some products and found that, contrary to some claims, toxins and carcinogens found in regular cigarettes are still found in electronic cigarettes.

Posted by George Daniels on Tuesday April 26 2011, 6:21 AM EST. Ref: AP. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Health. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0