The United States plans to ban the sale of flavored electronic cigarettes other than tobacco flavor

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(CNN) - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will complete a policy in the coming weeks that will require that flavored electronic cigarette products, other than tobacco flavor, be recalled “until they request and obtain the approval of tobacco premarketing authorities in the United States Food and Drug Administration, ”said US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Wednesday.

Azar said that tobacco-flavored electronic cigarettes may remain in the market for adults who may be using them to stop using conventional tobacco.

"But if we discover that children begin to consume tobacco-flavored electronic cigarettes or if we find marketing practices aimed at children and try to boost market share in tobacco-flavored products, we will engage in compliance actions there," said Azar.

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According to a statement from the Department of Health and Social Services, the preliminary numbers of the National Tobacco Survey for Young People show a continuous increase in the rates of electronic cigarette consumption among young people, and especially the use of flavors.

More than a quarter of high school students were users of electronic cigarettes in the last 30 days in 2019, and most said they used fruit and menthol or mint flavors.

“Once completed, this compliance policy will serve as a powerful tool that the FDA can use to combat the worrying trend of e-cigarette use by young people. We must act quickly against flavored electronic cigarette products that are especially attractive to children, ”said FDA interim commissioner Dr. Ned Sharpless.

“The tremendous progress we have made in reducing tobacco use among young people in the United States is in danger from this avalanche of electronic cigarette consumption. No one wants to see children become addicted to nicotine, and we will continue to use the full scope of our regulatory authority to address this growing public health crisis. ”

Electronic cigarettes