Jan 22, 2020

Congress wants vaping industry to pay for FDA oversight

Marisa Fernandez

A bipartisan group of senators wants the vaping industry to pay for more of the Food and Drug Administration's oversight of vaping products.

Driving the news: Six senators, led by Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, will introduce a bill today to charge e-cigarette manufacturers higher user fees, which fund many of the FDA's regulatory activities. A corresponding bill led by Rep. Cheri Bustos will be introduced in the House soon.

Why it matters: The FDA's Center for Tobacco Products has spent a lot of time and money on the vaping industry, but the fees that fund that activity are more geared toward cigarette, cigar and smokeless tobacco manufacturers.

  • The bill would up the tobacco industry's fees from $712 million to $812 million — the same increase the Trump administration's 2020 budget proposed. E-cigarette makers would have to pay fees based on their market share, or risk fines or even a ban.

Go deeper: Trump told Azar he regrets involvement in vaping policy

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Marisa Fernandez

CDC confirms 2,807 hospital cases of lung injury linked to vaping

Photo: Eva Hambach/AFP/Getty Images

There are 2,807 confirmed hospital cases of lung injury associated with vaping in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and two U.S. territories, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports as of Feb 18.

What's new: Because of the consistent declines in new EVALI cases since Sept. 2019, as well as the identification of vitamin E acetate as a primary cause of EVALI, Tuesday's report will be the final CDC update on the number of hospitalized EVALI cases and deaths nationally.

Go deeperArrowUpdated Feb 25, 2020 - Health
Marisa Fernandez, Rashaan Ayesh, Orion Rummler

68 reported dead from vaping-related lung illness

Photo: Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images

68 people have died from a lung injury associated with e-cigarette use in 29 states and the District of Columbia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports as of Feb. 18.

What's new: Because of the consistent declines in new EVALI cases since Sept. 2019, as well as the identification of vitamin E acetate as a primary cause of EVALI, Tuesday's report will be the final CDC update on the number of hospitalized EVALI cases and deaths nationally.

Go deeperArrowUpdated Feb 25, 2020 - Health
Marisa Fernandez

Juul bought ads on Cartoon Network and youth sites, lawsuit claims

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. Photo John Blanding/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Juul Labs paid a company to place ads on student-focused websites including the Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and Seventeen magazine, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey.

Why it matters: The suit, based on the findings of a two-year investigation, contradicts the e-cigarette company’s denial that it sought out teenagers to buy its products.

Go deeperArrowUpdated Feb 12, 2020 - Health