SALT LAKE CITY — A bipartisan group of senators, including Sen. Mitt Romney, are looking to tap e-cigarette manufacturers for $100 million a year for stronger Food and Drug Administration oversight of the vaping industry.
The Resources to Prevent Youth Vaping Act would require that e-cigarette makers pay user fees to the FDA for safety reviews of vaping products, to prevent sales of e-cigarettes to minors and to help efforts to educate youth on the dangers of e-cigarettes.
“By granting the FDA the authorization to collect user fees on e-cigarettes, our legislation builds on the positive work done so far to tackle the vaping crisis and protect our kids’ health in Utah and across the country,” Romney, R-Utah, said.
Tobacco companies pay FDA user fees, but e-cigarette manufactures are exempt under current law. The amount collected from e-cigarette makers would be proportional to their share of the overall tobacco market as determined by FDA.
Companion legislation will be introduced in the House.