Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) released the following statement on new rules announced today by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that extend federal regulatory authority to all tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes.
“Consumers deserve to know the products they buy are safe for use,” said Dingell. “Today’s announcement by the FDA is an important step toward ensuring key protections are in place for electronic cigarettes, which up until now have gone largely unregulated. With e-cigarette use among high school students skyrocketing from 1.5 percent in 2011 to 16 percent in 2015, we can all agree that banning the sale of tobacco products to kids and teenagers under 18 years old is a positive step in protecting future generations from the risk of tobacco use. Additionally, following a horrific incident in my district, where a Wyandotte man was severely injured by an exploding e-cigarette, it is welcome news that all parts of the e-cigarette, including the battery, will be regulated for safety.”
In August, Dingell sent a letter to Dr. Stephen Ostroff, Acting Commissioner of the FDA, emphasizing the urgent need to finalize a proposed rule to regulate electronic cigarettes. Dingell sent the letter after her constituent, Sgt. Jason Diekman of Wyandotte, was severely injured by an exploding electronic cigarette that badly burned his arms and abdomen.
