On April 30, ASAM joined members of the Tobacco Partners Coalition in sending a letter in response to a request for comment issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The request for comment sought industry input regarding draft guidance being developed by the FDA on modifications to compliance policy for certain deemed tobacco products. The letter stressed that addressing the teen vaping epidemic requires a stronger push than contained in the draft guidance, and urged the FDA further regulate nicotine products that could appeal to youth. 

The letter warned that the current draft guidance does not move quickly or forcefully enough in the right direction. It would allow flavored e-cigarettes to remain on the market for years to come without FDA public health review, while also implementing weak restrictions on youth access to flavored e-cigarettes at retail stores and on-line. It exempts menthol and mint-flavored e-cigarettes from certain requirements included in the guidance, and does not adequately address the targeted advertising that many e-cigarette companies are using to fuel the youth vaping epidemic. While it does lay the appropriate groundwork for action against flavored cigars, expedited action should be taken to take them off the market and to move toward a rule prohibiting characterizing flavors in cigars.

Read the comment letter here.