By the Central WI Tobacco Free Coalition

Marathon, Portage, and Wood counties

On Jan. 2, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a policy prioritizing enforcement against certain unauthorized flavored e-cigarette products that appeal to kids.

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, beginning 30 days from the publication, the FDA intends to prioritize enforcement against these illegally marketed electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) products by focusing on the following groups of products that do not have premarket authorization: any flavored, cartridge-based ENDS product, other than a tobacco- or menthol-flavored ENDS product; all other ENDS products for which the manufacturer has failed to take, or is failing to take, adequate measures to prevent minors’ access; and any ENDS product that is targeted to minors or likely to promote use of ENDS by minors.

The FDA does not address the production of tank-based flavored nicotine liquids.

“Nearly 9/10 WI youth wouldn’t try an e-cigarette if it wasn’t flavored,” said Jenna Flynn, coordinator for the Central WI Tobacco Free Coalition.

As a separate course of action, there has been a new federal law put into place that raises the legal age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21.

“Tobacco 21 laws reduce youth tobacco use,” said Flynn.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 80 percent of adult smokers started before they turned 18, and nearly 95 percent started before the age of 21.

The law is currently in effect, meaning tobacco retailers cannot sell tobacco products to those under the age of 21.

Use the Central WI Tobacco Free Coalition for a resource as these updates take effect in Wisconsin. Contact Jenna Flynn at 715-261-1931 or jenna.flynn@co.marathon.wi.us, Elizabeth Beck at 715-3455702 or becke@co.portage.wi.us, or Ashley Normington at 715-421-8923 or anormington@co.wood.wi.us.