What are e-cigarettes, vapes, and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) products?
Vape, vaporizer, vape pen, hookah pen, electronic cigarette (electronic cigarette or electronic cigarette), e-cigar, and e-pipe are some of the many tobacco product terms used to describe electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) is.
These products typically use e-liquid, which contains tobacco-derived nicotine as well as flavorings, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and other ingredients. It heats a liquid to create an aerosol, which you inhale.
ENDS may be manufactured to look like a traditional burning cigarette, cigar, or pipe. Some look like pens or USB flash drives. Larger devices such as tank systems and MODs bear little or no resemblance to cigarettes. These products may contain reusable parts, or they may be disposable, used only once, and then disposed of.
Looking for general health and safety information related to electronic cigarettes, vaping, or other ENDS?
The longer ENDS and other e-cigarettes have been on the market, the more we learn about their health effects. This includes data on adolescent use of these products and has led to the development of several educational programs designed to prevent the use of these products by adolescents and teens. FDA also learns more about the many safety and health risks that tobacco products can pose through tobacco product problem reports and tobacco product violation reports.
The FDA is committed to protecting the public health of the American public while regulating addictive products that pose health risks. We continue to conduct research into potentially less harmful nicotine delivery methods for adults, including research into e-cigarettes and ENDS. Many studies suggest that e-cigarettes and non-combustible tobacco products may be less harmful than combustible cigarettes. However, there is still not enough evidence to support the claim that e-cigarettes and other ENDS are effective tools for smoking cessation.
To date, e-cigarettes are not approved as smoking cessation devices and are not allowed to make modified risk claims. Further research is needed to understand the potential risks and benefits that these products may pose to adults who use tobacco products.
Youth use and prevention
The FDA monitors national rates of use of all tobacco products, including the annual Youth Survey, and has seen a significant increase in the use of e-cigarette products by youth in recent years. Because of what it calls an “epidemic” of youth use of these products, the FDA is prioritizing prevention efforts. The agency has taken a variety of measures, from policy development to enforcement and education, to keep ENDS out of the hands of young people.
Learn about public education initiatives and resources designed to reach youth at high risk or susceptible to tobacco use and nicotine addiction. FDA has created a toolkit, Vape and Electronic Cigarette Professional Resources, for adults and professionals who work with youth. This free resource provides easy facts about youth e-cigarettes and vaping.
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“True Cost” e-cigarette prevention campaign
The FDA's award-winning public education campaign, “The Real Cost,” continues to deter youth from starting and using tobacco. In 2017, the campaign began prioritizing anti-vaping messages to combat rising rates of e-cigarette use among youth. The Real Cost campaign also educates teens about the health effects of tobacco smoking.
Resources from the FDA Tobacco Education Resource Library
The FDA Tobacco Education Resource Library in the FDA Tobacco Products Center provides tobacco education resources. This site provides digital and print content for state and local health authorities, nonprofit organizations, and schools to support public assistance efforts. Vaping Prevention and Education Resource Centeris an online resource center with science-based, standards-based materials to help teachers understand the risks associated with e-cigarettes and nicotine addiction. The Resource Center has a variety of age-appropriate curriculum resources to help teachers facilitate learning and have open conversations with youth about vaping.
In addition to content for teachers, there is also material for parents and youth. All content in our resource center is free, easy to navigate, and optimized for each audience. These resources are also available in Spanish.
Visit our Vaping Resource Center
E-cigarette issues and possible violations
There are no safe tobacco products, including ENDS. In addition to exposing people to the risk of tobacco-related illness and death, FDA receives reports from the public about safety issues related to vaping products, including:
These problems can cause serious harm to the person using or around the ENDS product. For example, if his vape battery caught fire near an oxygen tank, propane tank (such as the one used in a backyard grill), or gas pump, or if he had a vape-related seizure while driving, It is likely to increase further. The FDA has a webpage with tips on how to avoid e-cigarette fires and explosions.
If you experience unwanted health or quality problems with tobacco products containing ENDS, you can report them to FDA. Learning more about adverse experiences can help FDA identify trends, causes, or contributing factors to specific incidents or health or quality problems beyond those associated with regular tobacco product use. Helpful. Some tobacco-related adverse experience reports can be read on our Tobacco Product Problem Reports page.
If you believe that ENDS or other tobacco products are being sold to minors or may violate the FD&C Act or FDA tobacco regulations, please report a potential tobacco product violation. please.
Are you a manufacturer of electronic cigarettes, vapes, or other ENDS?
FDA regulates the manufacturing, importation, packaging, labeling, advertising, promotion, sale, and distribution of ENDS, including its components and parts, excluding accessories.
Examples of regulated components and parts of ENDS include:
- electronic liquid
- E-liquid glass or plastic vial containers
- cartridge
- Atomizer, the part of ENDS that turns e-liquid into vapor for inhalation
- cartomizer and clearomizer. Similar to an atomizer, it delivers e-liquid in vapor form.
- specific battery
- Digital display or light to adjust settings
- tank system
- drip tip or mouthpiece
- Fragrance for ENDS
- programmable software
Products marketed for therapeutic purposes (for example, products marketed as smoking cessation aids) are regulated by the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). FDA has issued regulations clarifying when products manufactured or derived from tobacco are regulated as tobacco products, drugs, and/or devices.
If you create, modify, mix, manufacture, process, assemble, fabricate, label, repackage, relabel, or import ENDS, you must comply with the manufacturer's requirements.
CTP's Office of Small Business Assistance can answer specific questions about small business requirements and how to comply with the law. The office also provides online educational resources to help regulated industries understand FDA regulations and policies.
Are you a retailer of ENDS products?
Retailer tools
“This is Our Watch” is a voluntary education program with resources to help tobacco retailers better understand and comply with FDA tobacco regulations. Tobacco retailers play a direct role in protecting children from nicotine addiction and the deadly effects of tobacco use. Learn what tobacco retailers need to do to ensure our nation's young people become the next generation of Americans and comply with regulations set to prevent them from dying prematurely from tobacco-related diseases.
Retail Sales of Tobacco Products provides detailed information about the federal regulations retailers must follow, as well as regulations, guidance, and webinars for retailers.
Did you know that?
It is illegal for retailers to sell any tobacco product, including cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and e-cigarettes, to anyone under 21 years of age.
VAPE shops that mix e-liquids and modify products.
If you operate a vape shop that, in addition to selling products, mixes or prepares liquid nicotine or nicotine-containing e-liquids, or creates or modifies ENDS of any kind, you are considered a manufacturer and you You may need to comply with requirements. Linked above.
Some vape shops may have legal responsibilities as both manufacturers and retailers of tobacco products.
For more information about ENDS products that are authorized for sale in the United States, see the Premarket Tobacco Product Marketing Authorization Order.
Note: This page does not provide a comprehensive list of all ENDS products that may be sold in the United States. Retailers should discuss with their suppliers the current status of specific tobacco product coverage or product marketing authorization.
