Interpreting the FDA's New Tobacco Rules What Does It Really Mean?
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
By David Gaudet
The FDA “Deeming” Rule for other tobacco products came down in August 2016. There are a few very important changes that will affect convenience and grocery stores that sell tobacco products. A few of the highlights are below.
* What is deemed a “tobacco product” by the FDA now? Products such as cigars, pipe tobacco, e-cigarettes, e-cigars, e-hookah, vape pens, refillable personal vaporizers, e-pipes, hookah tobacco, dissolvable tobacco products and nicotine gels are all considered tobacco products now, and must be treated as such in retail locations.
* ID Under 27? Yes. These products now require ID to be asked for, the same as with cigarettes and chewing tobacco.
* What is the minimum purchase age? The federal minimum age is still 18, however, individual state minimum ages must be enforced if they are different.
* New Warning Label: In addition, the FDA is requiring that a new warning label will be added to all tobacco products (including the ones listed above), that states “WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.” This will take effect for all manufacturers on May 10, 2018.
These new rulings, and the fact that the FDA is enforcing even stricter regulations with all tobacco and tobacco-related products makes The BARS Program even more important for those who stock and sell these products. Creating a culture of compliance will become even more important to avoiding stings, as will adequate training and reporting.
For more information on these regulations, or to learn more about the BARS Program and how we can help you avoid a sting, please feel free to reach out to us today. Call 1-877-540-5500 today to speak to us about how we can help.
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