NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman issued the following statement today following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s announcement to extend its authority to all tobacco products:
“I applaud the FDA for expanding its authority to cover e-cigarettes and other tobacco products – all of which are dangerous public health threats, especially to our youth. Today’s rule change will protect young people from the dangers of nicotine addiction by prohibiting people under the age of 18 from purchasing these tobacco products and regulating the contents of these products. We hope that the FDA will take additional steps to protect young people from becoming e-cigarette users, such as banning flavors and requiring nicotine exposure warnings. It is my hope that these continued efforts will prevent young people from becoming addicted to nicotine.”