Texas Attorney General urges FDA to enforce stronger protections against E-Cigarettes

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, has joined a bipartisan coalition asking the Food and Drug Administration to strengthen its enforcement guidance on e-cigarettes. 

In January, the FDA released guidelines on how the agency will prioritize e-cigarette enforcement resources, particularly against flavored e-cigarettes that are cartridge-based. However, according to a press release from the AG's office, Paxton does not believe the FDA's guidelines prioritize disposable or refillable cartridge systems that are popular with the youth. 

“The FDA has set forth guidelines that, while helpful, do not go far enough to protect our children from the heavily marketed allure of flavored electronic cigarettes,” said AG Paxton. 

The release also states that the current guidelines do not decrease e-cigarette use among underage citizens and creates loopholes that manufacturers can exploit. 

“It’s no secret that e-cigarette use amongst Texas youth has grown exponentially in the past few years. Our children need protection in place that prevent companies from luring them into tough-to-break nicotine addiction with disposable, often sweet-flavored alternatives to cigarettes that have not proved to be any safer than other tobacco products,” said AG Paxton. 

AG Paxton has joined a bipartisan coalition of 26 attorney generals that have reached out to the FDA to urge stronger guidelines. 

The full letter is below: