Senator Murray Continues Push for Action Following Announcement Regarding Curbing Tobacco Use Among Youth

Food and Drug Administration issued over 1,300 warnings and fines for illegal sale of e-cigarette products to minors, warned that e-cigarette use among youth has reached “epidemic proportions”

FDA sent letters to e-cigarette manufacturers demanding plan to reduce youth use, is considering ban of flavored products

Murray: “We have seen before just how damaging an unchecked tobacco industry can be for public health, and just how dangerous it is to let tobacco products that appeal to youths continue to be marketed and sold—the science and history are clear and the cost of inaction is tremendous.”

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), released the following statement in response to an announcement by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on plans to address youth tobacco use.

“We have seen before just how damaging an unchecked tobacco industry can be for public health, and just how dangerous it is to let tobacco products that appeal to youths continue to be marketed and sold—the science and history are clear and the cost of inaction is tremendous. While I’m encouraged to see the Food and Drug Administration stepping up enforcement and exploring other ways to protect children, action on this issue is long overdue, which is why I’m going to keep pushing for additional strong action, including a reversal of previous delays and a ban on all flavored tobacco products,” said Senator Murray.

The FDA announced today that it sent over 1,300 warning letters to retailers for illegally selling e-cigarette products to minors and asked top e-cigarette manufacturers to develop a plan for reducing teen youth within 60 days. The FDA also said it is considering a restriction on flavored tobacco products, which appeal to youth.

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