Tobacco retailers across the United States will soon be faced with additional responsibilities as a result of the FDA’s recently issued final rule on tobacco product sales. One of the most notable changes is the increase in the minimum age for certain restrictions on tobacco product sales, which was raised from 18 to 21 following the enactment of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act in December 2019. With this new rule set to take effect on September 30, retailers will now be required to verify the age of anyone under 30 who is attempting to purchase tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, using photo identification. This marks an increase from the previous age limit of 27.
The FDA’s decision to implement these stricter regulations is aimed at reducing underage tobacco sales and protecting young people from the health risks associated with tobacco products. According to Brian King, PhD, MPH, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, keeping tobacco products out of the hands of youth is essential in preventing addiction and tobacco-related diseases and deaths. Research has shown that the majority of daily smokers in the U.S. started smoking before the age of 21, underscoring the importance of enforcing the federal minimum age of sale for tobacco products.
In order to ensure compliance with these new regulations, the FDA has conducted over 1.5 million compliance checks of tobacco retailers, resulting in a significant number of warning letters, civil money penalties, and no-tobacco-sale orders for violations related to federal age restrictions. The agency is committed to robustly enforcing the minimum age of sale for tobacco products and providing resources to retailers to help them understand and comply with tobacco laws and regulations.
In addition to verifying the age of customers under 30 with photo identification, retailers will no longer be permitted to sell tobacco products in vending machines in areas where individuals under 21 are present or allowed to enter. These measures are intended to further protect young people from accessing tobacco products and reduce the number of individuals who become addicted to tobacco.
The FDA’s final rule on tobacco product sales represents a significant step in the ongoing efforts to protect youth from the dangers of tobacco use. By raising the minimum age of sale and enacting stricter regulations for retailers, the agency is working to reduce underage tobacco sales and prevent young people from becoming addicted to tobacco products. As the rule takes effect later this year, retailers will need to adapt to these changes and ensure compliance with the new requirements to help safeguard the health and well-being of the nation’s youth.
Leave a Reply