Over 40 democrats have called on FDA to act.
WASHINGTON — In one of the first major anti-vaping campaigns for the 117th Congress, House Democrats have all signed a letter asking the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to clear the domestic market of what they view are unregulated deemed tobacco products.
“Flavored e-cigarettes are putting a new generation of kids at risk of nicotine addiction and the serious health harms that result from tobacco use. And these products are widely available and popular with kids,” states the letter led by Democratic Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL) and Diana DeGette (CO) to Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, according to a press statement.
Wasserman Schultz et al. argue that products undergoing PMTA reviews should not be sold to the American public until applications are approved.
Under the Tobacco Control Act of 2009, the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products must review every single vaping and deemed tobacco product for such products to remain available to the public.
In September of 2020, the PMTA deadline for review was reached as literally thousands of products were sent to be scientifically tested to highlight its degree of harm associated with such a product compared to more traditional products like cigarettes.
In the letter, the lawmakers specifically call on FDA to remove from the market all flavored e-cigarettes that are currently under FDA review, to deny applications for any flavored e-cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products, and to deny issuing a marketing order for any e-cigarette that poses an increased risk of youth initiation or addiction, notes DeGette and Wasserman Schultz and company.
“Unfortunately, the vast majority of these tobacco products that are undergoing premarket review have already been on the market for several years with observable negative consequences for public health.”
Wasserman Shultz’s office also noted that more than 40 other members of the House of Representatives also signed the letter to Woodcock.
The individuals include Reps. Karen Bass, Joyce Beatty, Ami Bera, M.D., Lisa Blunt Rochester, Julia Brownley, Ed Case, Kathy Castor, David N. Cicilline, Steve Cohen, Angie Craig, Danny K. Davis, Mark DeSaulnier, Ted Deutch, Adriano Espaillat, Bill Foster, Josh Gottheimer, Raúl Grijalva, Jahana Hayes, Mondaire Jones, Kaiali’i Kahele, and Raja Krishnamoorthi.
Others include James R. Langevin, Ted W. Lieu, Jerry McNerney, Grace Meng, Marie Newman, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Chellie Pingree, Jamie Raskin, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Michael F.Q. San Nicolas, Bobby Rush, Mary Gay Scanlon, Jan Schakowsky, Kim Schrier, M.D., Terri A. Sewell, Darren Soto, Haley Stevens, Thomas R. Suozzi, Eric Swalwell, Lauren Underwood, and Bonnie Watson Coleman.
Well, the science says they don’t, but hey vote for the New Prohibitionist – heaven forbid you should be able to have freedom of choice.