These proposals, placed on Nov 15, “have enormous
potential to drive down tobacco use and the death and disease it causes in the
US”, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids said in a statement on Sunday.
“However, the FDA must move as quickly as possible to
propose, finalise and implement the necessary regulations,” its President
Matthew L Myers added.
The FDA’s actions on electronic cigarettes are
praise-worthy but not short of banning the flavours that have made e-cigarettes
so popular with kids, according to the statement.
Menthol and mint flavours will remain widely available
despite recent data that show 51 percent of high school students who currently
use e-cigarettes use menthol- or mint-flavoured products, it added.
“With these flavours still widely available, it is
doubtful that this plan will stem the tide of youth e-cigarette use and it will
be critical for the FDA to quickly supplement the steps,” it added.
