DeLauro Statement on FDA Actions Targeting Youth Access to E-Cigarettes

WASHINGTON, DC (November 15, 2018) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement regarding the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) actions to prevent youth access to flavored tobacco products.

"Today's actions from the FDA fall short of what is needed to tackle the crisis level of e-cigarette use among teens. Manufacturers and retailers need to know that the federal government is not going to let our children become addicted to nicotine as previous generations have. To meet that important goal, the FDA needs to ban all e-cigarette flavors, ensure retailers—both online and brick and mortar—are keeping children from illegally buy e-cigarettes, and enforce premarket product reviews so manufacturers are held accountable for the consequences of their devices. Our children's health is at stake."

Earlier this year, DeLauro re-introduced the Stop Tobacco Sales to Youth Act, which would close federal loopholes to keep children safe from tobacco products by requiring that Internet and mail order sales of e-cigarettes are treated the same way as traditional tobacco products. Under federal law, people can buy cigars, hookah, and e-cigarettes online, by mail, or on the phone, without facing any age verification requirements.