Online vape sellers exposed for failing to comply with safety restrictions
Online e-cigarette and vape retailers are facing scrutiny for failing to comply with sales restrictions aimed at preventing the sale of vape products to minors. Regulations require age verification, shipping methods, and flavor restrictions to be in place to protect young consumers. Researchers at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at the University of California San Diego conducted a study to test the adherence of online retailers to these guidelines.
The study, published in JAMA, involved 16 participants attempting to purchase flavored vapes online and have them delivered to their homes in San Diego County. Shockingly, out of the 156 attempted transactions, 73% were processed, and 67% of orders were successfully delivered. This raises concerns about the ease with which minors can access these products online, even in areas where restrictions are in place.
The research revealed that some online retailers were not following flavor restrictions and the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act, a federal law that prohibits the use of the United States Postal Service (USPS) to ship vaping products and requires age verification upon delivery. Only 1% of buyers had their IDs scanned, and 81% of deliveries were made via USPS, in violation of the law.
Dr. Eric Leas, the lead study author, emphasized the need for routine checks to monitor and enforce compliance among online retailers, especially to prevent youth vaping. Online e-cigarette sales are the largest and fastest-growing sector of the tobacco industry, making it crucial to address these compliance issues.
In response to the study, California lawmakers approved law SB-1230 to strengthen state tobacco oversight programs, which will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025. However, experts like Micah Berman, an attorney and member of the Cancer Control Research Program at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, believe that the FDA must take more aggressive action to regulate online sales of tobacco products.
The FDA confirmed that they are reviewing the findings of the study, highlighting the importance of addressing non-compliance among online vape sellers. It is essential for regulators to work together to ensure that regulations are effectively enforced to protect young consumers from the harms of vaping.
