“Trouble ahead: @FDATobacco (which fundamentally does not understand vaping) sends its plans for a war on so-called ‘kid-appealing’ #vape flavors to for regulatory approval. Working through the system and will be out soon…” read a tweet by harm reduction activist Clive Bates.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), together with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched this consultation in order to gather feedback on how to best regulate flavours. Echoing what Gottlieb said last week, the agency said it aims to limit flavours’ appeal to adolescents, whilst considering the role that they are having in helping adult smokers take the leap from smoking to vaping.
“This ANPRM will seek information on how it might regulate flavors in tobacco products to limit appeal to youth while taking into account the potential role that some flavors may play in helping some users transition away from combusted products. Certain flavors are generally recognized as appealing to youth, such as gummy bear and cotton candy, while others, such as coffee and cinnamon, may not be as obvious. In this notice, FDA would request information on how best to regulate flavors in tobacco products to limit appeal to youth and prevent youth initiation and use of tobacco products.” read the ANPRM Abstract.
The way the flavours issue is framed “will disclose their world-view and policy intent.”
In response to Bates’ tweet, some replied that so far this is a request for comments and any decisions will be sought when these are submitted, hence there is no reason for alarm yet. Bates however pointed out that “ how they frame the flavors issue will implicitly disclose their world-view and policy intent.”
I’m 40 and my favorite flavor is a watermelon candy. Kids aren’t the only ones with sweet tooth’s. Adults like cotton candy as well, and alcohol manufacturers realized this as well when they started to release cotton candy flavored vodka and other flavored spirits.