AMA Strengthens Position on Regulation of Electronic Cigarettes June 12, 2014 Advocacy, AMA, Public Health American Medical Association, ecig, e-cigarette regulation, e-cigarettes, AMA 0 Concerned by the alarming growth in use of electronic cigarettes among minors, the American Medical Association (AMA) called for reining in the sale and marketing practices of companies that produce electronic nicotine delivery systems at its annual meeting. AMA adopted the new policy opposing the sales and marketing of electronic cigarettes and nicotine delivery products to minors. The new policy extends AMA’s existing policy adopted in 2010 that calls for all electronic cigarettes to be subject to the same regulations and oversight that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) applies to tobacco and nicotine products. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that use of electronic cigarettes by U.S. students in middle and high schools has more than doubled from 3.3% in 2011 to 6.8% in 2012. In addition to minimum purchase age restrictions, the new AMA policy supports the following product requirements for electronic cigarettes and nicotine delivery systems: Disclosures regarding the design, content and emissions; Child-proof and tamper-proof packaging and design; Enhanced product labeling; Restrictions related to flavors that appeal to minors; and Prohibition of unsupported marketing claims as a tobacco cessation tool. The AMA also strongly encourages further development of strategies to prevent marketing of electronic cigarettes and nicotine delivery systems to minors and stem the negative health effects of nicotine on minors. On the local front, SFMS has had a policy supporting such regulations for years. We have supported efforts from the San Francisco Department of Public Health as well as San Francisco supervisors to propose stricter, healthier regulations on e-cigarettes. Comments are closed.
