Read articles from United States of America

March 18, 2024 by washingtonexaminer.com

A growing number of House Republicans are calling on the Biden administration to expedite the approval process for smoke-free tobacco products through the Food and Drug Administration to expand options to consumers looking to quit smoking. In a letter sent to President Joe Biden [...] a group of nearly 70 House Republicans led by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) pressed the president to move forward with long-pending applications for new smoke-free products to be approved by the FDA.

March 15, 2024 by washingtonexaminer.com

A growing number of House Republicans are calling on the Biden administration to expedite the approval process for smoke-free tobacco products through the Food and Drug Administration to expand options to consumers looking to quit smoking. In a letter sent to President Joe Biden on Monday, a group of nearly 70 House Republicans led by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) pressed the president to move forward with long-pending applications for new smoke-free products to be approved by the FDA. 

March 15, 2024 by townhall.com

Not wanting to stymie the alarmism by acknowledging rapid declines in youth vaping, a handful of U.S. senators are again sounding the alarm on the so-called youth vaping epidemic. A recent letter to top executives of major convenience store chains “strongly encourage[s]” retailers to comply with federal regulations and remove all unauthorized e-cigarette products from their store shelves. Unfortunately, much like previous efforts from a group of Democratic lawmakers who penned previous letters (including one in 2020 urging a ban on all flavored e-cigarettes), this is another futile attempt that disregards increasing data on youth and adult e-cigarette use in the U.S.

March 14, 2024 by nbcsandiego.com

The Schmidt National Law Group filed a lawsuit against Philip Morris, accusing them of targeting children and young adults with their product Zyn. The lawsuit seeks damages and stricter limits on access to the flavored nicotine pouches. Despite being legally purchasable by those 21 and older, the product is accessible to younger individuals. Some users claim to use Zyn as a safer alternative to vaping. The case faces a potentially lengthy litigation process, with Philip Morris yet to respond to the allegations.

March 14, 2024 by bostonherald.com

Critics are unhappy as the state Supreme Judicial Court upholds Brookline's ban on selling tobacco to anyone born this century. Justice Wendlandt found the ban aligned with state law but convenience store owners are against it. Advocates support the decision for public health. Brookline is known for strict tobacco regulations, being the first to ban smoking in public places. The ruling is seen as groundbreaking, gaining interest from other towns and even sparking similar proposals in California. Despite opposition claiming it restricts freedom, the ban is upheld for its health benefits, with advocates hoping it will inspire other places to combat the tobacco epidemic.

March 12, 2024 by northcarolinahealthnews.org

North Carolina is utilizing $40 million from a settlement with Juul to combat youth vaping. Programs include research, data monitoring, and education initiatives. There’s a searchable database of Juul documents for public access. Despite efforts, vaping remains prevalent, with enticing flavors like Elf Bar's unapproved offerings. Federal regulations restrict flavors and sales to minors. Youth-focused cessation programs like "QuitlineNC" and "This is Quitting" aim to combat addiction. Further research, prevention, and flexible strategies are planned using additional settlement funds. The state's challenge lies in reaching youth most in need of assistance. Monitoring data and adapting programs based on effectiveness are critical for success in reducing youth vaping rates.

March 12, 2024 by foxnews.com

Kentucky House passed a bill to combat illegal e-cigarette sales to teens and unauthorized vaping products. Businesses must declare involvement in tobacco sales, with info forwarded to authorities. The rise in unauthorized disposable vapes from China fueled the U.S. market. The bill enforces age restrictions, fines for violations, and aims to keep unauthorized products out of stores. The FDA struggles to control the vape market. The bill aims to balance access to FDA-approved products while protecting children. Critics argue it may harm adult users and businesses, calling it governmental overreach. The bill aims to follow FDA regulations.

March 11, 2024 by regulatorwatch.com

Known as PMTA registry or directory bills, its new legislation or amendments to existing state law that require manufacturers, distributors, or sellers of nicotine vaping products to attest under penalty of perjury that the products are either authorized for sale by the FDA or are still undergoing the agency’s arduous pre-market tobacco application process. The problem is that the FDA has approved only 23 products out of the 5 million submitted for approval. And all of these products are owned by big tobacco and are only available in tobacco flavors. Joining us today to discuss the impact of these efforts to take out vaping are vape shop owners Danny Gillis and Chris Lautz, [...]

March 11, 2024 by regulatorwatch.com

Known as PMTA registry or directory bills, its new legislation or amendments to existing state law that require manufacturers, distributors, or sellers of nicotine vaping products to attest under penalty of perjury that the products are either authorized for sale by the FDA or are still undergoing the agency’s arduous pre-market tobacco application process. The problem is that the FDA has approved only 23 products out of the 5 million submitted for approval. And all of these products are owned by big tobacco and are only available in tobacco flavors. Joining us today to discuss the impact of these efforts to take out vaping are vape shop owners Danny Gillis and Chris Lautz, [...]

March 08, 2024 by tobaccoreporter.com

Senators from key committees urged major convenience stores and wholesalers to cease selling illicit flavored vaping products, citing federal law violations. They expressed concern over children being attracted to colorful, candy-flavored disposable e-cigarettes and highlighted the public health risks. Senator Dick Durbin emphasized the need for action from the FDA and the industry to combat youth vaping. The letters were sent to retailers such as 7-Eleven and BP America, following earlier FDA warnings about unauthorized vaping brands. The senators involved in the initiative were Ron Wyden, Bernie Sanders, Sherrod Brown, and Richard Blumenthal.