The Federal Trade Commission demanded information about all sales, promotions, and advertising tactics used by six e-cigarette manufacturers, including Juul Labs, from 2015 to 2018.
Vape manufacturing giants Juul Labs, Nu Mark LLC, R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company, Fontem U.S. Inc., Logic Technology Development LLC, and NJOY LLC have been ordered to turn over all marketing materials by Jan. 2, 2020. Some of the information the FTC has asked for includes the companies’ annual sales, product giveaways, promotional programs on college campuses, and total advertising expenses.
Thursday’s order from the FTC is part of a wider effort to crack down on vaping industry marketing tactics aimed at young people. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report showed that in 2018, about 3.15 million middle and high school students were using flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
The FTC’s goal is to “assist the Commission, policy makers, and the public to better understand the rapidly growing e-cigarette market” and will coincide with similar efforts to regulate e-cigarette makers. For instance, the FTC and Food and Drug Administration warned 13 e-cigarette manufacturers in May 2018 against selling vaping liquids in packaging that looks like juice boxes, cookies, and candy.
Health officials at the Food and Drug Administration, the CDC, and state health departments still recommend that people refrain from using any and all e-cigarettes or vaping products.
