THE public health advocacy group Health Justice yesterday expressed the belief that the latest ruling of the Supreme Court (SC) affirming the mandate of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate tobacco products would help in their fight against vaping.
In a statement, Health Justice said the FDA must also be given jurisdiction over other tobacco products such as vapes, heated tobacco products, and novel tobacco products.
“The Supreme Court ruling is a vindication of the DOH and FDA’s efforts to regulate the health aspects of tobacco products,” said Health Justice.
“This regulatory win is significant and timely given that our country is facing another health crisis brought by the tobacco industry through its aggressive push of vapes and heated tobacco products,” it added.
The group said such a mandate must also be handed to the Department of Health (DOH) and the FDA before the vaping problem gets out of hand.
“The DOH and FDA should crack down on these harmful products before it is too late for our youth,” said Health Justice.
The statement was issued after the High Tribunal reaffirmed the regulatory power of the FDA over the health aspects of tobacco products in its July 23 ruling.
This after the tobacco industry insisted that the Inter-Agency Committee on Tobacco has sole powers over tobacco products and their health aspects.
The Vape Regulation Law provides that the government regulatory powers lie with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Health advocates, however, have been pushing for the mandate to regulate vape products to be given to the FDA.
