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Section 904(a)(3) of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the Tobacco Control Act, (FDCA) requires manufacturers and importers to report the quantities of Harmful and Potentially Harmful Constituents (HPHCs) found in their tobacco products, or in the smoke produced by their products, by brand and sub-brand.  21 U.S.C. § 387d(a)(3).  This requirement was extended to all deemed products such as e-cigarettes, e-liquid, cigars, hookah and pipe tobacco when the Deeming Rule went into effect on August 8, 2016.

Pursuant to the initial compliance policy set forth in the Deeming Rule, HPHC reports for all deemed finished tobacco products on the market at that time were due by August 8, 2019.  Not long after soon-to-be-departing FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb began his term in 2017, FDA announced that it would be delaying several compliance dates, including the HPHC reporting deadline, by three months to November 8, 2019 for all deemed products.  Since then, FDA has failed to provide any actual guidance on which HPHCs should be assessed and how.  Now, FDA has published a Revised Guidance for Industry: Extension of Certain Tobacco Product Compliance Deadlines Related to the Final Deeming Rule that further extends the reporting deadline for deemed finished tobacco products to a date to be determined in the future depending on when FDA publishes its final guidance on the HPHC reporting requirement (the “Final HPHC Guidance”).  Specifically, HPHC reports for deemed products are now due either nine (9) months after the Final HPHC Guidance is published for small tobacco product manufacturers, or six (6) months after the Final HPHC Guidance is published for large tobacco product manufacturers.  Importantly, FDA has indicated that here a small tobacco product manufacturer is any company (including any entity that it controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with) that has fewer than 350 employees pursuant to Section 900(16) of the FDCA, 21 U.S.C. § 387(16). 

In 2012, FDA finalized a list of 93 HPHCs, focusing on five disease outcomes: cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory effects, developmental or reproductive effects, and addiction.  See 77 Fed. Reg. 20034 (Apr. 3, 2012).  When this list was published, only cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and roll-your-own tobacco products were regulated by FDA.  In recognition of testing limitations, laboratory capacity concerns, and the short time between the establishment of the HPHC list and the reporting deadline, rather than require manufacturers to test for and report on all 93 HPHCs, FDA published a guidance document identifying abbreviated lists of representative HPHCs for which testing methods were well established for each of the product categories (cigarettes, roll-your-own, and smokeless tobacco).  FDA also extended the compliance date by 6 months for small tobacco product manufacturers and by 3 months for large tobacco product manufacturers.

Abbreviated List of HPHCs for Traditional Tobacco Products
HPHCs in Cigarette Smoke HPHCs in Smokeless Tobacco HPHCs in Roll-your-own Tobacco and Cigarette Filler
Acetaldehyde Acetaldehyde Ammonia
Acrolein Arsenic Arsenic
Acrylonitrile Benzo[a]pyrene Cadmium
4-Aminobiphenyl Cadmium Nicotine (total)
1-Aminonaphthalene Crotonaldehyde NNK
2-Aminonaphthalene Formaldehyde NNN
Ammonia Nicotine (total and free) –
Benzene 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) –
Benzo[a]pyrene N-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) –
1,3-Butadiene – –
Carbon monoxide – –
Crotonaldehyde – –
Formaldehyde – –
Isoprene – –
Nicotine (total) – –
NNK – –
NNN – –
Toluene – –

With respect to deemed products, other than broadening the definition of an HPHC to include chemicals in the “aerosol (vapor) or any other emission” that may be potentially inhaled, ingested, or absorbed into the body, FDA has not yet provided any meaningful guidance (or initiated rulemaking) to help companies meet the reporting requirement.

For vapor products, potential HPHCs of interest to FDA may be found in the draft guidance document on Premarket Tobacco Product Applications (PMTA) for Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) that was published in May 2016 along with the final Deeming Rule.  In that guidance, and in the context of developing PMTAs, FDA identified 29 constituents, along with “other chemicals and toxic chemicals as appropriate,” that it recommends ENDS manufacturers analyze in the aerosol produced by their products (see pages 26-27).  Other than a handful of substances, e.g., acetyl propionyl, diacetyl, diethylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, menthol, propylene glycol, all of the below substances are also on FDA’s official 93 HPHC list:

FDA PMTA Draft Guidance Analyte List for ENDS
Acetaldehyde (CASRN 75-07-0) 2-Aminonaphthalene (CASRN 91-59-8) Cadmium (CASRN 7440-43-9) Formaldehyde (CASRN 50-00-0) Nicotine, including total nicotine and unprotonated nicotine (CASRN 54-11-5)
Acetyl Propionyl (CASRN 600-14-6) Ammonia (CASRN 7664-41-7) Chromium (CASRN 7440-47-3) Glycerol (CASRN 56-81-5) 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) (CAS Reg. No. 64091-91-4)
Acrolein (CASRN 107-02-8) Anabasine (CASRN 494-52-0) Crotonaldehyde (CASRN 4170-30-3) Isoprene (CASRN 78-79-5) N-nitrosonornicotine (CASRN 16543-55-8)
Acrylonitrile (CASRN 107-13-1) Benzene (CASRN 71-43-2) Diacetyl (CASRN 431-03-8) Lead (CASRN 7439-92-1) Propylene glycol (CASRN 57-55-6)
4-Aminobiphenyl (CASRN 92-67-1) Benzo[a]pyrene (CASRN 50-32-8) Diethylene glycol (CASRN 111-46-6); Menthol (CASRN 1490-04-6)

Toluene

(CASRN 108-88-3)
1-Aminonaphthalene (CASRN 134-32-7) 1,3-Butadiene (CASRN 106-99-0) Ethylene glycol (CASRN 107-21-1) Nickel (CASRN 7440-02-0) Other chemicals and toxic chemicals as appropriate (e.g., potentially toxic pyrolytic products of the chemicals listed above)

Of relevance, in Footnote 28 of the draft PMTA guidance FDA states (emphasis added):

These constituents are constituents that, to FDA’s current thinking, potentially could cause health hazards depending on the level, absorption, or interaction with other constituents. FDA intends to establish a revised list of harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) that include HPHCs in ENDS products in the Federal Register, issue guidance regarding constituent reporting (i.e., harmful or potentially harmful constituent (HPHC) reporting) under section 904(a)(3) of the FD&C Act, and later issue a testing and reporting regulation as required by section 915. While applicants should submit certain information about HPHCs as part of their applications, the requirement to submit HPHC listings under section 904 of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 387d) is separate and distinct from the premarket review requirements under section 910. HPHC information submitted under section 904 will assist FDA in assessing potential health risks and determining if future regulations to address a product’s health risks are warranted. For PMTAs, FDA expects that applicants will report the levels of HPHCs as appropriate for each product, so the reported HPHCs will differ among different product categories. The Agency recommends that manufacturers consult with CTP’s Office of Science about what is appropriate in the context of a specific application.

For manufacturers of deemed products seeking to comply with the HPHC requirement, critical areas remain unclear, including (1) which HPHCs must be assessed, (2) whether such HPHCs will need to be identified in the e-liquid or tobacco itself or in the vapor/aerosol/smoke produced (particularly for open-system products), (3) what analytical methodologies and testing equipment should be used, and (4) the number of appropriate test samples and replicates, among other things. These are all issues that should be addressed in FDA’s Final HPHC Guidance, which could take several more months or longer to be finalized (especially considering that FDA will be transitioning to a new Commissioner).  At that point, pursuant to FDA’s announced extension, large and small tobacco product manufacturers must submit HPHC reports for their products by six and nine months, respectively, thereafter.

If you have any questions regarding HPHC reporting requirements contact Azim Chowdhury (chowdhury@khlaw.com). For more information about our Tobacco and E-vapor Practice, visit https://www.khlaw.com/evapor.

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cancer_research_uk

A major study found that e-cigarettes were twice as effective in helping people quit smoking than nicotine replacement therapies—such as patches, gum, and nasal spray—when both methods were accompanied by behavioral support. The randomized study involved 886 adults who were attending the U.K. National Health Service stop-smoking services.

Study participants were randomly given either nicotine-replacement products of their choice for up to 3 months or an e-cigarette starter pack, which consisted of a second-generation refillable e-cigarette and one bottle of nicotine e-liquid (with 18 mg per milliliter). The e-cigarette group were told to purchase further e-liquids of the flavor and strength of their choice. The participants using the nicotine-replacement products could use multiple products.

The study compared abstinence levels, which were validated biochemically, after one year.  For those in the e-cigarette group, the one-year abstinence rate was 18.0% and, for those in the nicotine-replacement group, it was 9.9%. Among the participants that did not achieve full abstinence, those in the e-cigarette group were more likely than those in the nicotine-replacement group to reduce their smoke intake at the one-year point.

Funded by the National Institute for Health Research and Cancer Research UK, the study took place between May 2015 and February 2018. The authors pointed out that this study showed a stronger effect of e-cigarettes than previous trials. They suggested one possible reason was, previous trials provided limited or no face-to-face support. Both groups in the UK study were provided smoking-cessation treatment, which included weekly behavioral support for at least 4 weeks.

Results of the study, A Randomized Trial of E-Cigarettes versus Nicotine-Replacement Therapy,  were published in the New England Journal of Medicine, on January 30, 2019 (see here).

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Sam Jockel has been published in the Food and Drug Law Institute’s Update Extra, an electronic-only feature of Update Magazine. The article “FDA Holds Public Hearing on Strategies to Address Youth E-Cigarette Use” is available online here. This article is republished with the permission of FDLI.

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As previously reported on this blog, on November 15, 2018, citing new data from the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) that showed a surge in e-cigarette use among youth, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. announced new steps aimed at curtailing illegal underage use of e-cigarettes by limiting where such products can be purchased.  More specifically, the Commissioner indicated that FDA would seek to limit the sale of flavored e-cigarettes (excluding tobacco, mint and menthol flavored products) to (1) brick-and-mortar retailers that permit entry only to adults (18+), or that have a walled-off adult-only section where flavored products can be viewed and purchased; and (2) in online stores that implement soon-to-be-announced “heightened” age-verification measures.[1]

With respect to online sales of flavored e-cigarettes, while FDA has not yet provided direction on how companies should verify the age of those purchasing such products over the internet, FDA said that it plans to identify and publish a list of best practices for online retailers. It is possible that the Agency will implement guidance that includes similar requirements to those found in California’s Stop Tobacco Access to Kids Enforcement Act (STAKE Act) – a law which California authorities are increasingly enforcing.

California’s STAKE Act

California law prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21[2], and the STAKE Act imposes mandatory steps that online distributors and sellers of tobacco products are required to follow to verify that a purchaser of these items is 21 years of age or older. The Act defines “tobacco products” to include an “electronic device that delivers nicotine or other vaporized liquids to the person inhaling from the device, including, but not limited to, and electronic cigarette, cigar, pipe, or hookah.”[3]

The steps required under the STAKE ACT are summarized below.

  • Attempt to match the name, address and date of birth provided by the customer to information contained in records in a database of individuals whose age has been verified to be 21 years or older by reference to an appropriate database of government records kept by the distributor, a direct marketing firm or any other entity.
  • Verify that the billing address on the check or credit card offered for payment by the purchaser matches the address listed in the database.
  • If unable to verify that the purchaser is 21 years of age through the above, require the customer or recipient to submit an age-verification kit consisting of an attestation signed by the customer that he or she is 21 years of age or older and a copy of a valid form of government identification.
  • Verify that the billing address on the check or credit card provided by the consumer matches the address listed in the form of government identification.
  • For credit card transactions, submit information to each credit card company so that the words “tobacco product” may be printed in the purchaser’s credit card statement.
  • Regardless of the form of payment, prior to shipping the tobacco product to a California customer, make a telephone call after 5 p.m. to the purchaser or recipient confirming the order. The call may be a recorded message left on voicemail.
  • Deliver only to the purchaser or recipient’s verified billing address on the check or credit card used for payment. Delivery to a post office box address is prohibited.[4]

Enforcement of the STAKE Act

California is actively pursuing businesses that violate the STAKE Act, both through warning letters from the state Department of Justice, as well as legal action. The warning letters, which may include violations of additional statutes (e.g., Propositions 56 and 65), outline the obligations to businesses and the requirements that they must to take to ensure that their tobacco products—including electronic cigarettes and vapor devices—are not being sold to anyone under 21 years of age. The letters also remind recipients that:

“Section 22963 [the STAKE Act] provides for civil penalties of up to $2,000 for the first violation of its requirements, $3,500 for the second violation, $5,000 for the third violation, $6,500 for the fourth violation, and $10,000 for each subsequent violation in a five-year period.”

Legal action taken by California includes a lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles on October 31, 2018, naming Kandypens Inc., a manufacturer and online retailer of vaping products, as the defendant. The enforcement action seeks injunctive relief and civil penalties for violating the STAKE Act, and other statutes.

Noting that “…any child with a prepaid gift card and an internet connection can easily purchase Kandypens’ vaping devices and e-liquids through Kandypens’ website because Defendant fails to follow state-mandated procedures for verifying a purchaser’s age,” the enforcement action requests that Kandypens be enjoined from selling vaping products over the internet without first verifying the purchaser’s age. It also requests that the Defendant be assessed civil penalties for each violation of the STAKE Act, in addition to penalties for violating of other statutes.

While we await FDA’s final guidance for online e-cigarette retailers, businesses selling tobacco products to consumers in California over the internet need to be in compliance with the STAKE Act now. Although it is not yet clear what “heightened” online age-verification measures FDA will require, it is certainly possible that the Agency will turn to states like California for guidance.

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[1]           U.S. Food & Drug Admin., FDA Statement, Statement From FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on Proposed New Steps to Protect Youth by Preventing Access to Flavored Tobacco Products and Banning Menthol in Cigarettes (Nov. 15, 2018) (hereinafter, the “FDA Nov. 15, 2018 Statement”), https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/UCM625884.htm?utm_campaign=111518_Statement_FDA%20Commissioner%20statement%20on%20p

[2] Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 22958(a).

[3] Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 22963(a).

[4] SB 7, amending Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 22963.

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Keller and Heckman is pleased to announce the agenda for this year’s E-Vapor and Tobacco Law Symposium. This comprehensive 2-day course will provide you with guidance on how to stay in compliance with FDA’s recent announcements and much more. Click here to view the agenda.

Topics that will be covered include: FDA and State law compliance, HPHCs and PMTAs, Advertising and Marketing, European Union and Global laws, Environmental, OSHA and CPSC compliance, CBD and cannabis-derived products, and more!

To register, click here.

Seminar Details:
Date: January 29 – 30, 2019
Cost: $899 if you register by January 4, 2019; $1,099 if you register after January 4, 2019
*register 3 or more attendees from the same company and receive a 10% discount. Email seminars@khlaw.com for additional information.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE)
CLE credits are available, pending state approval

Location
Marriott Miami Biscayne Bay
1633 N Bayshore Drive
Miami, FL 33132

Keller and Heckman has negotiated a preferred room rate of $259 per night, plus tax at the Marriott Miami Biscayne Bay. Reservations must be received no later than January 7, 2019. To make your reservation, please click here.

This year’s E-Vapor and Tobacco Law Symposium will feature a conference app; stay tuned for details on downloading the app!

Learn how to stay in compliance with FDA’s recent announcements and much more at Keller and Heckman’s upcoming E-Vapor and Tobacco Law Symposium on January 29 – 30, 2019, in Miami, Florida. Below is a sampling of topics that will be covered at the event. Sign up now and take advantage of our early bird discount!

FDA Regulation Update and Preparing for What’s Next
Azim Chowdhury

  • FDA’s New Announcement: How it Will Impact Your Business
  • Product Compliance Overview: Vapor, Cigars, Hookah
  • Flavors and Product Standards
  • Reporting on Harmful and Potentially Harmful Constituents (HPHCs)
  • Premarket Review for Deemed Tobacco Products
  • PMTAs, SE Reports, and Using Master Files
  • Potential Over-the-Counter Drug Pathway
  • Status of Proposed Rulemakings
  • Modified Risk Tobacco Products
  • Online Sales – “Heightened” Age-Verification
  • Retailer Compliance and Adults-Only Requirement
  • Enforcement and Penalties
  • …and much more!

FDA Inspections: Are You Prepared?
Azim Chowdhury and Daniel Rubenstein

  • Overview of FDA Inspection Authority
  • Update on Tobacco Product Manufacturing Practices
  • The FDA Inspection: Before, During and After
  • Enforcement and Penalties
  • Keller and Heckman’s Audit and Inspection Program (AIP)

Key Litigation Update
Eric Gotting

  • Nicopure and Right to be Smoke-Free Coalition v. FDA (Deeming Rule Appeal)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics v. FDA
  • Potential Upcoming Litigation (e.g., flavor and convenience store bans)

Environmental Issues Affecting Nicotine-Containing Products
JC Walker

  • Overview of Hazardous Waste Regulations Governing E-Liquid Manufacturers and Distributors
  • Considerations for Minimizing Regulatory Exposure

OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard and Considerations for the E-Liquid Industry
Manesh Rath

  • Overview of OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS)
  • Scope of Standard and Exemptions
  • Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)
  • Labeling
  • Employee Training
  • Future Challenges for E-liquid Industry

Advertising and Marketing: Implications for Global Public Policy and the Role of Self-Regulation
Sheila Millar

  • Marketing Practices: Impact on Public Perception, Regulations, Enforcement and Litigation
  • Expanding Global Concerns About Child-Appealing Marketing
  • Creating and Implementing Effective Advertising Self-Regulation

Business, IP, and Advertising Issues – How to Stay in Compliance                                       
Tracy Marshall and Bob Niemann

  • Drafting and Negotiating Vendor, Manufacturing, and Distribution Agreements
  • Insurance Policies for Vapor Companies
  • Protecting Trademarks, Copyrights, and Trade Secrets and Avoiding IP Infringement
  • Privacy and Data Security
  • Using Digital Marketing to Promote Your Business
  • Conducting Contests, Sweepstakes, and Other Promotions

State Law Update
Azim Chowdhury

  • Overview of State permit, licensing and tax requirements for tobacco and vapor products
  • Age-verification and delivery requirements

How to Sell Your Products in the EU (Without Getting into Problems): TPD and Beyond
Marcus Navin-Jones

  • Refresher on TPD Requirements
  • EU Requirements which Apply in Addition to the TPD
  • EU Law vs National Law: Areas where EU Countries are Allowed to Have their Own Rules
  • Recalls Withdrawals and Legal Crisis Management.
  • Brexit and How Brexit is Affecting the Vape Industry

Going International: Preparing Your Business for Global Compliance
David Ettinger

  • Current Regulatory Status of Vapor Products Around the World
  • China and Asia
  • New Zealand
  • Australia
  • Russia, India, Middle East, and More
  • World Health Organization

In addition to the topics above, we will also have special guest speakers from Cardno ChemRisk, Broughton Laboratories and others on topics including Premarket Tobacco Product Applications and HPHC Reporting. Stay tuned for the full agenda!

To register, click here.

Seminar Details:
Date: January 29 – 30, 2019
Cost: $899 if you register by January 4, 2019; $1,099 if you register after January 4, 2019
*register 3 or more attendees from the same company and receive a 10% discount. Email seminars@khlaw.com for additional information.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE)
CLE credits are available, pending state approval

Location
Marriott Miami Biscayne Bay
1633 N Bayshore Drive
Miami, FL 33132

Keller and Heckman has negotiated a preferred room rate of $259 per night, plus tax at the Marriott Miami Biscayne Bay. Reservations must be received no later than January 7, 2019. To make your reservation, please click here.

For additional information, please contact:

Sara A. Woldai, CMP
Manager, Marketing Meetings and Events
woldai@khlaw.com
202.434.4174

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18plus

Following a series of actions over the last several months, on November 15, 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) announced new steps aimed at protecting youth from tobacco, including, among other things, preventing access to flavored electronic nicotine delivery system (“ENDS”) sold in certain retail locations, and potentially banning menthol in combustible tobacco products.[1]  Spurred by the release of new data from the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey (“NYTS”) showing a rise in e-cigarette use among youth over the past year, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., announced a number of steps to prevent youth access to, and use of, tobacco products, including: (i) directing the Center for Tobacco Products (“CTP”) to revisit FDA’s premarket review compliance policy for flavored ENDS, other than tobacco, mint and menthol flavors, sold in retail outlets that are not adult (18+) only; (ii) directing CTP to publish additional information regarding best practices for age-restricting online sales; (iii) issuing a Proposed Rulemaking that would seek to ban menthol in combustible tobacco products, including cigarettes and cigars; (iv) issuing a Proposed Rulemaking to ban, through appropriate means, all flavors in cigars; and (v) advancing a policy that aggressively pursues the removal of ENDS products that appear to too kid-friendly.

National Youth Tobacco Survey Data

On November 15, 2018, the FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) released new findings from the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey showing that more than 3.6 million middle and high school students were “current e-cigarette users” – defined as having used e-cigarettes once in the past thirty days – in 2018, which FDA described as a “dramatic increase of more than 1.5 million students since last year.”[2]  As background, the NYTS “is a cross-sectional, voluntary, school-based, self-administered, pencil-and-paper survey of U.S. middle and high school students.”[3]

According to the FDA news release, “the number of U.S. high school students who reported being current e-cigarette users increased 78 percent between 2017 and 2018 to 3.05 million (or 20.8 percent).”[4]  Further, “among middle school students, numbers rose 48 percent [from the previous year] to 570,000 (or 4.9 percent) [of total middle school students].”  What is more, the NYTS data showed that high school students who reported being current e-cigarette users reported using these products more frequently.  Indeed, “[i]n the last year, the proportion of those [high school students] using the product more regularly (on 20 or more of the past 30 days) increased from 20 percent to 27.7 percent[.]”[5]  The study authors suggest that rising e-cigarette use in the last year is likely attributable “to the recent popularity of certain types of e-cigarettes, such as JUUL,” noting that these and similar products “have a high nicotine content and come in appealing fruit and candy flavors.”[6]

In his statement, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. explained that “[w]e still believe that non-combustible forms of nicotine delivery, such as e-cigarettes, may be less harmful alternatives for currently addicted adult smokers who still seek nicotine[,]” but clarified that “FDA will not allow” the opportunity presented by e-cigarettes “to come at the expense of addicting a whole new generation of kids to nicotine.”[7]  CDC Director, Robert R. Redfield, M.D., echoed these concerns stating that “[t]he markedly accelerating rate of e-cigarette use among U.S. youth within the past year is a cause for grave concern” and noting that it is “critical that we implement proven strategies to protect our Nation’s youth from this preventable health risk.”[8]

FDA Announces New Policy Framework to Combat Rising Youth Use of Tobacco Products, Including ENDS

In response to the NYTS data, FDA announced a new policy framework designed to address rising youth use of tobacco products, including ENDS.

Limiting Sales of Flavored ENDS (Other Than Tobacco, Mint and Menthol) to Adults-Only Retailers  

First, FDA announced that all flavored ENDS products (other than tobacco, mint, and menthol flavors, or non-flavored products) will be required to be sold in age-restricted, in-person locations, or else potentially be subjected to a revised Premarket Tobacco Product Application (“PMTA”) deadline.  This policy revision would apply to all ENDS products, including e-liquids, cartridge-based systems and cigalikes, in flavors except tobacco, mint, and menthol, sold in physical locations where people under age 18 are permitted.[9]  This policy revision would not apply to ENDS products sold exclusively in age-restricted locations (e.g., a stand-alone tobacco retailer (such as a vape shop)) that adequately prevent persons under age 18 from entering the store at any time; or, a section of an establishment that adequately prevents entry of persons under age 18 and prevents persons under age 18 from viewing or accessing flavored ENDS products.[10]  As noted, this policy revision does not apply to ENDS products with tobacco, mint, or menthol flavors, as well as to non-flavored ENDS products, sold in any location.

In other words, vape shops that restrict access to adults (18+) only will be able to continue to sell a wide variety of flavored e-liquids/ENDS.  ENDS products sold in locations that are not adults-only, however, will be limited to only tobacco, mint and menthol flavored products; other flavors (e.g., cherry, vanilla, crème, tropical, melon, etc.) sold in such locations, while not “banned” per se, will be subject to a revised compliance policy that could move the PMTA deadline earlier than the current August 8, 2022 deadline for ENDS products on the market as of August 8, 2016.

The Commissioner also noted that FDA plans to continue to aggressively pursue removing ENDS products marketed to children and/or appealing to youth from the market.  These marketing practices may include “using popular children’s cartoon or animated characters” or “names of products favored by kids like brands of candy or soda.”[11]

Heightened Age Verification for Online Sales

Second, FDA announced that it would seek to curtail the sale of flavored ENDS products (other than tobacco, mint and menthol) that are sold online without “heightened age verification” processes.  To advance this goal, FDA plans to identify and publish a list of best practices for online retailers.

Earlier this week, in addition to promising to cease selling flavored products (other than tobacco, mint and menthol) in all brick-and-mortar retailers, JUUL announced its own comprehensive online age-verification process:

Flavored Cigars and Menthol Cigarettes

Third, FDA announced that flavored cigars will no longer be subject to the extended compliance date for premarket authorization (which currently sets the premarket application deadline for cigars on the market on August 8, 2016 to be August 8, 2021).  However, this policy does not apply to the entire product category, as certain flavored cigars are considered “grandfathered” and exempt from premarket review if they were on the market as of February 15, 2007.[12]  To address this gap in regulatory authority, FDA plans to propose a product standard that would ban all flavored cigars.

Fourth, FDA announced plans to publish a Proposed Rule in the Federal Register that would seek to ban menthol in combustible tobacco products, including cigarettes and cigars.

Implications for the ENDS Product Category

FDA’s approach to addressing rising youth use of certain flavored (e.g., non-tobacco, mint, and menthol flavored) cartridge-based e-cigarette products may be effective, but is also potentially subject to legal challenge.  Section 906(d)(3) of the Tobacco Control Act expressly states that “no restrictions under [906(d)(1)] may — (i) prohibit the sale of any tobacco product in face-to-face transactions by a specific category of retail outlets.”  Nevertheless, a prohibition on the sale of flavored ENDS at retail outlets (e.g., convenience stores) appears to be precisely what FDA plan to accomplish, albeit through indirect means.

In particular, FDA’s announcement is framed as a withdrawal of an “enforcement discretion” policy, previously applicable to certain flavored ENDS products.  Arguably, the practical effect of this compliance policy revision is a prohibition on the sale of a tobacco product in face-to-face transactions by a specific category of retail outlets (e.g., generally accessible convenience stores).  That said, FDA will likely argue that it is simply reverting to the state of the law at the time of the Deeming Rule.  Further, FDA is likely to justify its policy by noting that it expressly allows sales of flavored ENDS products at all retail outlets, provided that the retail outlet has an “adults-only” section where flavored ENDS products are not visible to youth who may otherwise be in the store.  This action aligns with the requirements currently applicable to the distribution of samples of smokeless tobacco products in “qualified adult[s]-only” facilities.[13]

In any case, only time will tell whether FDA’s actions to address the rise in youth use of tobacco products, including flavored ENDS products, will be effective at curtailing youth access.  In the interim, e-liquid manufacturers will increasingly rely on specialty tobacco product retailers (e.g., “vape shops”) and age-verified online channels to distribute their products to adults.

If you have any questions regarding FDA’s recent announcements contact Azim Chowdhury (chowdhury@khlaw.com) and be sure to register for Keller and Heckman’s 3rd Annual Tobacco and E-Vapor Law Symposium in Miami, Florida on January 29-30, 2019 here.

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[1] U.S. Food & Drug Admin., FDA Statement, Statement From FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on Proposed New Steps to Protect Youth by Preventing Access to Flavored Tobacco Products and Banning Menthol in Cigarettes (Nov. 15, 2018) (hereinafter, the “FDA Nov. 15, 2018 Statement”), https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/UCM625884.htm?utm_campaign=111518_Statement_FDA%20Commissioner%20statement%20on%20proposals%20to%20address%20youth%20tobacco%20use&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua.

[2] U.S. Food & Drug Admin., FDA News Release, Results from 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey Show Dramatic Increase in E-Cigarette Use Among Youth Over Past Year (Nov. 15, 2018), https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm625917.htm?utm_campaign=111518_PR_New%20federal%20findings%20show%20dramatic%20increase%20in%20youth%20e-cigarette%20use&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua.

[3] Id., supra n.2.

[4] Id.

[5] Id.

[6] Id.

[7] Id.

[8] Id.

[9] FDA Nov. 15, 2018 Statement, supra n.1.

[10] Id.

[11] FDA Nov. 15, 2018 Statement, supra n.1.

[12] Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, Pub. L. 111-31, 123 Stat. 1776 (June 22, 2009) (hereinafter, the “Tobacco Control Act”), at § 910(a)(1)(A) (defining a new tobacco product” as “any tobacco product (including those products in test markets) that was not commercially marketed in the United States as of February 15, 2007”).

[13] Tobacco Control Act, supra n.11, at § 102(d)(2)(A).

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to announce today detailed plans to curtail the growing number of youth who are using certain types of e-cigarette products. Below is a summary of the Agency’s recent actions and compliance deadlines.

September 12, 2018 Letters to Vuse, Blu, JUUL, MarkTen XL, and Logic

  • On September 12, FDA sent letters to the manufacturers of five Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) products (Vuse [British America Tobacco], Blu [Imperial Brands], JUUL [JUUL Labs], MarkTen [Altria] and Logic [Japan Tobacco]) “requiring them to submit important documents to better understand the reportedly high rates of youth use and the particular youth appeal of their products.”  These cartridge-based (closed system) products account for 97% of the closed-system cartridge-based e-cigarette market.
  • FDA indicated that it believes e-cigarette use by youth “is reaching epidemic proportions”.  FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb asked the five manufacturers to “come back to the FDA in 60 days with robust plans on how they’ll convincingly address the widespread use of their products by minors, or [FDA will] revisit the FDA’s exercise of enforcement discretion for [flavored ENDS] products currently on the market.”  Dr. Gottlieb continued, “This may require those brands to revise their sales and marketing practices, including online sales; to stop distributing their products to retailers who sell to kids; and to remove some or all of their flavored e-cig products from the market until they receive premarket authorization and otherwise meet applicable requirements.”
  • In an October 31 Statement,  Commissioner Gottlieb announced that he had met with the five manufacturers and heard their comments and proposals on how each company would address sales to minors, and how each company thought FDA should regulate to address the same issue.  Altria subsequently announced that it would cease sales of its MarkTen cartridge-based products, as well as its flavored cigalike products other than tobacco and menthol; Fontem Ventures indicated it will tighten its age-verification process and raise the age for online sales to 21;  and JUUL has announced that it will only permit the sale of flavored products (e.g., cucumber, mango, crème and fruit) through its age-verified online-store, while restricting brick-and-mortar retailers to only tobacco, mint and menthol-flavored pods. JUUL further announced it would be increasing retailer compliance efforts, reduce its social media presence, and develop technology to further reduce the use of its products by youth.

October 12, 2018 Letters to 21 Manufacturers Regarding Potentially Unauthorized New Tobacco Products

  • On October 12, FDA “sent letters to 21 e-cigarette companies . . . seeking information about whether more than 40 products . . . are being illegally marketed and outside the agency’s current compliance policy.”  These letters asked manufacturers to provide documentation within 30 days of receipt demonstrating that the identified products were on the market on August 8, 2016 and have not been modified since that date.
  • This effort is a clear indication that FDA intends to ramp up its enforcement of the marketing authorization provisions and that ENDS products introduced to the market after August 8, 2016 can expect enforcement.

October 22 – 23, 2018 FDA Public Meeting on Tobacco Product Application Review

  • FDA held a meeting (video available) to discuss FDA’s review of premarket applications.
  • Topics included:
    • Substantial Equivalence (and requests for exemption);
    • Premarket Tobacco Product Applications (PMTAs);
    • Modified Risk Tobacco Product Applications (MRTPAs);
    • Pre-submission meetings;
    • Tobacco Product Master Files (TPMFs);
    • Resources available;
    • Environmental Assessments; and
    • Newly Deemed Tobacco Products

November 8, 2018 Ingredient Listing for Small-Scale Tobacco Product Manufacturers

  • Ingredient Listing submissions were due to FDA on November 8 for small-scale manufacturers of Newly Deemed Tobacco Products.  Ingredient listing is a requirement for all tobacco products marketed in the United States, regardless of where manufactured.  For more on ingredient listing, see our most recent blog posts here and here (all ingredient listing related posts are here).
  • For small-scale manufacturers impacted by recent natural disasters, FDA has extended the deadline to submit until May 8, 2019.
  • In a revised guidance published in April 2018, FDA clarified that it now intends to enforce the ingredient listing requirement only with respect to those tobacco product components or parts, such as e-liquids, that are made or derived from tobacco, or contain ingredients that are burned, aerosolized or ingested (i.e., consumed) during use.

December 5, 2018 Public Hearing Announced to Discuss FDA’s Efforts to Eliminate Youth Electronic Cigarette Use

  • As previously reported on Keller and Heckman’s Daily Intake blog, On November 2, 2018 FDA announced a public hearing scheduled for December 5, 2018 to discuss continued efforts to curb e-cigarette use and to aid cessation amongst youth. Topics of interest noted in Dr. Gottlieb’s press release focus on cessation and include:
    • Potential role of drug therapies to support cessation of e-cigarettes and traditional tobacco products use (including cigarettes and smokeless tobacco) amongst youth;
    • Behavioral interventions to aid in cessation;
    • Development of cessation drugs;
    • Development of methods, study designs, and measures for evaluating drugs for use in youth cessation; and
    • Funding opportunities for research on youth use, attitudes, and cessation.

Modification to FDA’s Unified Registration and Listing System Tobacco Registration and Listing Module

  • In early November, FDA updated its FDA Unified Registration and Listing (FURLS) Tobacco Registration and Listing Module (TRLM) to be more user friendly.  The information required for registering a facility and providing product lists does not appear to have changed, but the process should be simpler and more user-friendly.
  • As a reminder, facility registrations must be renewed annually by December 31. Changes to product lists to reflect new products being manufactured, products no longer being manufactured, or changes to labeling/packaging, advertising, or consumer information, must be made by June 30 and December 31 every year.  This means that any labels that have changed to include FDA’s required nicotine warning statement, for example, will need to be updated in FURLS.

Impending FDA Actions

  • In recent weeks, FDA has announced through the press that it is considering banning, or otherwise severely limiting, the sales of flavored (except tobacco and menthol), cartridge-based e-liquids in convenience stores and gas stations, and that it is considering proposing a rule to ban menthol in cigarettes as well as characterizing flavors in other combusted tobacco products (e.g., cigars).

We will report further as additional details of any marketing or other restrictions are released.

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Azim Chowdhury and Sam Jockel have been published in the latest Issue of Food and Drug Law Institute Update Magazine, “Spotlight on Tobacco – Future Developments in the Regulation of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems: Potential Over-the-Counter Pathway.” Update is open access online. To read the article, click here. This article is republished with the permission of FDLI.

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On May 23, 2018, Bill S-5 (“An Act to amend the Tobacco Act and the Non-smokers’ Health Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts”) became law in Canada, representing a major shift in Canada’s regulatory framework, as the Bill establishes a nationalized approach to the regulation of vaping products and tobacco products through the implementation of the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA).

This legislation represents a milestone for vaping products. Prior to the TVPA, vaping products were not expressly acknowledged as legal at the federal level in Canada. Further, vaping products containing nicotine were regulated under the Food and Drugs Act and required premarket approval. Canada’s modernized approach seeks to strike a balance between the goals of restricting access to tobacco and vaping products for minors, while allowing adult smokers to access vaping products and less harmful alternatives to traditional tobacco products.

 General Overview of the TVPA and Related Legislation

Under the new TVPA framework, vaping products that are not marketed with therapeutic claims are now legal and may be manufactured, distributed, and sold in Canada.[1] A “vaping product” is defined in Section 2 (Interpretation) of the TVPA as: (a) a device that produces emissions in the form of an aerosol and is intended to be brought to the mouth for inhalation of the aerosol; (b) a device that is designated to be a vaping product by the regulations; (c) a part that may be used with those devices; and (d) a substance or mixture of substances, whether or not it contains nicotine, that is intended for use with those devices to produce emissions.  Therefore, e-liquids, including zero-nicotine e-liquid, fall within this definition.

While vaping products will be permitted under the TVPA, they will be subjected to substantial regulation. The Act addresses the manufacture, sale, labeling, and promotion of tobacco products and vaping products, and major provisions will:

  • Largely apply existing tobacco regulations to vaping products[2];
  • Prohibit the sale of vaping products to minors[3];
  • Place heavy restrictions on advertising and promotion of vaping products by restricting lifestyle advertising, use of testimonials, and related claims[4];
  • Restrict the promotion of certain flavors—especially those that may allegedly appeal to minors, e.g., dessert flavors[5]; and
  • Empower Health Canada to implement regulations, including plain and standardized tobacco packaging.[6]

Certain provisions of the TVPA became effective upon Bill S-5 receiving Royal Assent on May 23, 2018 (e.g., prohibition on sale to youth), while other provisions give manufacturers and importers 180 days to comply, following Royal Assent (e.g., provisions that prohibit the manufacture and sale of vaping products containing an ingredient set out in Schedule 2, such as “colouring agents”).

Promotional Claims

Stakeholders and Health Canada are working together to ensure that the various restrictions set out in the TVPA, including those impacting promotional claims and advertising, are not overly burdensome.[7] Health Canada has acknowledged competing interests that push back on its obligation to ensure that the public is not misled by promotional practices, including a strong interest in allowing adults to access the information needed to make informed decisions about the vaping products available on the market (especially adults who are working to quit the use of tobacco products). One example is the current dialogue between Health Canada and stakeholders related to TVPA Section 30.43. Specifically, while TVPA Section 30.43 seeks to prohibit the use of certain promotional statements, e.g., statements that could lead a consumer to believe that certain health benefits will result from vaping, Health Canada has distributed a draft list of relative risk statements about vaping products that would be permitted under the TVPA, if finalized.[8] The September 4, 2018 draft of the “List of Statements for Use in the Promotion of Vaping Products” was circulated, and Health Canada accepted comments until September 17, 2018.[9] The list is now under review with the Scientific Advisory Board on Vaping Products (SAB). The seven proposed statements are:

  1. If you are a smoker, switching completely to vaping is a much less harmful option;
  2. While vaping products emit toxic substances, the amount is significantly lower than in tobacco smoke;
  3. By switching completely to vaping products, smokers are exposed to a small fraction of the 7,000 chemicals found in tobacco smoke;
  4. Switching completely from combustible tobacco cigarettes to e-cigarettes significantly reduces users’ exposure to numerous toxic and cancer-causing substances;
  5. Completely replacing your cigarette with a vaping product will significantly reduce your exposure to numerous toxic and cancer-causing substances;
  6. Switching completely from smoking to e-cigarettes will reduce harms to your health; and
  7. Completely replacing your cigarette with an e-cigarette will reduce harms to your health.

While the list has not yet been finalized, the collaborative effort between Health Canada and stakeholders in bringing clarity to the TVPA through exemptions and other regulatory measures evidences an effort to balance the goals of the legislation. This is in stark contrast to the Tobacco Control Act in the United States, which bans all “modified risk” claims made with FDA authorization. As we have previously blogged about here, this provision of the Tobacco Control Act is being challenged by the vapor industry.

Related Legislation

Additional legislation, such as Canada’s Food and Drugs Act and the Non-smokers’ Health Act, will play a role in the approval of vaping products that contain therapeutic claims and will address other issues, such as exposure to second-hand smoke in public spaces and workplaces. The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) will also play a role in the regulation of vaping products as a whole.

The CCPSA sets forth mandatory reporting and document retention requirements, as well as a prohibition on the manufacture, import, advertisement, or sale of any consumer product that is a “danger to human health or safety,” as defined by Paragraphs 7(a) and 8(a) of the CCPSA. Further, the CCPSA empowers Health Canada to order recalls (including less severe actions, depending on degree of risk), as well as to order that testing be conducted on the consumer product of interest.[10]

Health Canada intends to introduce regulations under the CCPSA to address health and safety risks posed by vaping products. While there are currently no product-specific regulations for vaping products under the CCPSA, the CCPSA and applicable regulations, including the Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations, 2001 (CCCR), will apply until regulations specific to vaping products are implemented.  After specific regulations take effect, general provisions of the CCPSA will continue to apply.

Canada’s Guidance Document, Vaping Products not Marketed for a Therapeutic Use (July 12, 2018), provides an overview of the health and safety requirements that exist under the CCPSA and related CCCR regulations that relate to vaping products marketed without therapeutic claims (i.e., vaping products that are not regulated as drugs under Canada’s Food and Drugs Act). The CCCR sets forth a classification-based approach to rules for consumer chemicals, including a prohibition on the sale of very toxic substances and requirements for labeling.  Child-resistant containers are also required for toxic substances.

Importantly, Section 3 of Health Canada’s Guidance Document summarizes the classifications related to nicotine that are applicable to vaping products “manufactured, imported, advertised, or sold as consumer products.” The summary from the Guidance Document states the following:

  1. Vaping liquids containing equal to or more than 66 mg/g nicotine meet the classification of “very toxic” under the CCCR, 2001 and are prohibited from being manufactured, imported, advertised, or sold under Section 38 of the CCCR, 2001.
  2. Vaping liquids containing between 10 mg/g and less than 66 mg/g nicotine meet the classification of “toxic” under the CCCR, 2001.  Stand-alone containers of these liquids must meet the CCCR, 2001 requirements for “toxic” chemicals, including child-resistant containers and hazard labelling.
  3. While the CCCR, 2001 excludes ingredients present between 0.1 mg/g and 10 mg/g when calculating a chemical product’s toxicity, Health Canada has determined that nicotine is potentially toxic via oral exposure in this concentration range. Therefore, vaping liquids containing nicotine between 0.1 mg/g and 10 mg/g or under 1% (m/m) (representations of nicotine concentration in mg/mL and mg/g are not necessarily interchangeable as mass varies with the density of the vaping liquid) that do not meet the requirements for the “toxic” classification under the CCCR, 2001 are a violation of the general prohibition set out in Paragraphs 7(a) or 8(a) of the CCPSA and are subject to enforcement action.

Section 4.3 of the Guidance Document (“Vaping Liquid Considerations”) describes additional considerations regarding whether a consumer product that is a “danger to human health or safety,” as defined by Paragraphs 7(a) and 8(a) of the CCPSA. As noted above, products that are considered to be a “danger to human health or safety” may not be manufactured, imported, advertised, or sold as a consumer product. Specific considerations for e-liquids include those related to nicotine, as described above, diluents, additives and flavors, impurities and thermal degradations products, and microbial contamination. Considerations for vaping devices focus on electrical and mechanical aspects of the product, batteries, and chargers.

Importing E-liquids into Canada from the United States

Under the TVPA, vaping products such as e-liquids may now be imported into Canada, according to Customs Notice 18-05.[11] A step-by-step guide to importing commercial goods into Canada is available here, which serves as a valuable tool.

While many manufacturers and distributors have looked to Canada as a potential market, navigating the process of importing vaping products does not come without its challenges. In addition to licensing and permits, tariff classification numbers are needed for each item, and duties and taxes must be determined prior to shipping the goods and having them released from customs. Further, provincial or territorial legislation may impose additional requirements that retailers must follow. We expect that additional guidance will be forthcoming in this regard.

Joint Efforts to Regulate Vaping Products in North America

The North American Vapor Alliance (NAVA) recently emerged as an outlet to ensure practical regulation of vaping products, and to create a unified approach to standards and regulatory regimes across the U.S. and Canada. On September 5, the American E-Liquid Manufacturing Standards Association (AEMSA), the Smoke-Free Alternatives Trade Association (SFATA), and the Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) announced that they would be engaging in this joint effort. For a copy of the press releases, see here and here.

We will continue to provide updates regarding the evolving regulatory landscape that will impact vaping products in Canada.

For more information, contact Azim Chowdhury (+1 202.434.4230, chowdhury@khlaw.com). For more information on our tobacco and e-vapor regulatory practice in general, visit khlaw.com/evapor.  Follow Keller and Heckman Tobacco and E-Vapor Partner Azim Chowdhury on Twitter.

 

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[1]              We note that vaping products that make therapeutic claims continue to fall within the scope of Canada’s Food and Drugs Act and require premarket approval.

[2]              See TVPA, Part I.1 (Vaping Products); see also Part III (Labelling).

[3]              TVPA, Part II (Access).

[4]              TVPA, Part IV (Promotion), Division 2 (Vaping Products).

[5]              See TVPA, Sections 30.48 and 30.49 and the “Flavours” table set out in Schedule 3.

[6]              See Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 152, Number 25: Tobacco Products Regulations (Plain and Standardized Appearance.

[7]              See, e.g., TVPA, Sections 30.1 through 30.8.

[8]              In preparing the list of statements, Health Canada considered public opinion from the 2018 Public Health Consequences of E-Cigarettes report, prepared by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (report highlights are available here), and consulted with the external Scientific Advisory Board on Vaping Products (SAB).

[9]              The draft list of statements was circulated in a September 4, 2018 email from Mathew Cook, Manager of the Regulations Division of the Tobacco Products Regulatory Office, which is part of Health Canada’s Tobacco Control Directorate.

[10]             See Sections 12(a), 31, and 32 of the CCPSA.

[11]             “Commercial shipments of vaping products with no health claims and no health product ingredients (can contain nicotine as a sole ingredient) may now be imported into Canada under the TPVA [sic].”  (See Customs Notice 18-05 (May 24, 2018), Paragraph 5).