The U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees order the FDA to crack down on illegal disposable e-cigarettes and prioritize enforcement of flavored e-cigarettes

The U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees order the FDA to crack down on illegal disposable e-cigarettes and prioritize enforcement of flavored e-cigarettes

The U.S. Senate and House Appropriations Committees ordered the FDA to crack down on illegal disposable e-cigarettes, but took different positions in the appropriations bill. The Senate plans to withhold some funds to prompt the FDA to act, while the House wants to delay new menthol and nicotine regulations.

 

According to Politico recently reported, the U.S. Senate and House Appropriations Committees ordered the FDA to crack down on illegal disposable e-cigarettes.

 

However, the two chambers took different positions in the appropriations bills passed by the committee to ensure that the FDA takes a series of actions. For example, expand priority enforcement on flavored disposable e-cigarettes and require foreign manufacturers to register.

 

In the Democratic-controlled Senate, lawmakers plan to withhold 10% of funds from FDA "other activities" salaries and expenses.

 

But the Republican-controlled House of Representatives wants to stop the development of regulations to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, or limit the nicotine content in cigarettes, until the FDA resolves several requirements.

 

The House's approach drew criticism from Democratic Appropriations Committee members late Wednesday, who slammed the move as a concession to the tobacco industry. But Republicans rejected an amendment to remove the wording, saying the Biden administration has a chance to advance relevant regulations.

 

Republican Rep. Andy Harris said,

 

"Address illegal products before you do new regulations on nicotine levels or menthol."

 

"These regulations could have been done a year ago if the White House thought it was the right policy or the right political choice."

 

Rep. Steny Hoyer said he didn't think the House language would derail the House FDA appropriations bill.

 

"I hope it gets taken out, it's not a poison pill… unlike some of the poison pills that got stripped out last year, and I think it will get stripped out this year."

Rosa DeLauro, a ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, called the House language harmful to public health.

 

"It's not going to get removed in this environment."

 

"It's not over yet, and I think there's an opportunity to get it removed."

 

A spokesman for Sen. Dick Durbin slammed the House approach as a "gift to the tobacco companies."

 

"Senator Durbin believes Congress should reject the House's reckless approach and hopes the Senate's language will finally stop the FDA from standing by and stopping all illegally marketed e-cigarettes from being marketed to kids."

 

The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously passed a bill Thursday that would give the FDA $6.87 billion in fiscal year 2025.

 

The Senate measure would increase funding for several agency priorities in fiscal year 2024, including $2 million for the newly announced FDA-DOJ joint tobacco task force, Senate President Patty Murray's office said.