Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, are essentially nicotine-delivery products, relatively new to the market with a growing following. The battery-powered devices provide inhaled doses of nicotine through a vaporized solution contained in cartridges inserted into the apparatus.

In April 2011, the FDA announced plans to regulate e-cigarettes as a tobacco product under the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (the Tobacco Control Act). This fact sheet explains what this announcement means, and what steps state and local governments can take to restrict e-cigarette sales and use.

Electronic Cigarettes: How They Are - and Could Be - Regulated is one of a series of fact sheets - called FDA Law Notes - that PHLP has produced to explain issues related to the 2009 FDA Law.