PH vapers hail US FDA push for e-cigarettes

The country’s vapers welcomed a push being made by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to promote the development of less harmful tobacco products.

“We laud the US FDA for the agency’s strong push for nicotine regulation, which paves the way for the development of innovative and less harmful tobacco products,” said Tom Pinlac, president of The Vapers Philippines.

“It is our hope that local policymakers and regulators would follow the lead of the US FDA,” Pinlac said.

Addressing addiction

Last month, the US FDA issued a notice of proposed rules in which FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb saw nicotine reduction as “a historic opportunity” to convince smokers to switch from conventional cigarettes to products that provide nicotine without serious health hazards posed by burning tobacco.

“To successfully address cigarette addiction, we must make it possible for current adult smokers who still seek nicotine to get it from alternative and less harmful sources,” said Gottlieb.

He added that regulation would encourage the innovation of less harmful products.