FDA looks to regulate liquid nicotine, e-cigarettes

The Food and Drug Administration has issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking "seeking comments, data, research, and/or other information related to nicotine exposure warnings and child-resistant packaging for liquid nicotine, nicotine-containing e-liquid(s), and potentially for other tobacco products including, but not limited to novel tobacco products such as dissolvables, lotions, gels, and drinks."

The FDA's news release explains that the agency "has evaluated data and science related to the risks, especially to infants and children, from accidental exposure to nicotine, including exposure to liquid nicotine and nicotine-containing e-liquid (s). The continuing rise in popularity of electronic nicotine devices (ENDS), such as e-cigarettes, which often use liquid nicotine and nicotine-containing e-liquids, has coincided with an increase in calls to poison control centers and visits to emergency rooms related to liquid nicotine poisoning and other nicotine exposure risks. FDA’s assessment of these recent trends has led the agency to seek additional information on whether, based on the acute toxicity of nicotine (up to and including nicotine poisoning), it would be appropriate for the protection of the public health to:

  • warn the public about the dangers of nicotine exposure (especially due to inadvertent nicotine exposure in infants and children); and/or
  • require some tobacco products be sold in child-resistant packaging."

The comment period is open for 60 days, beginning today.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *