The federal minimum age to purchase tobacco products - including e-cigarettes and vaping cartridges - has been officially raised from 18 to 21, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.
According to the FDA's website:
"Note: On December 20, 2019, the President signed legislation to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and raise the federal minimum age of sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 years. It is now illegal for a retailer to sell any tobacco product – including cigarettes, cigars and e-cigarettes – to anyone under 21. FDA will provide additional details on this issue as they become available."
The FDA's website notes it was updated on Dec. 20.
The FDA had six months to make actual change in the minimum age after Trump signed it into law. After that, the minimum age change would be imposed within the next 90 days.
The new age limit was raised with bipartisan support in the Senate and signed as part of a $1.4 trillion spending package signed by President Donald Trump on Dec. 20. The legislation amended the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
The spending package signed by the president also includes $1.4 billion to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border as well as $25 million in gun violence research.
While it's now federally mandated, 19 states and the District of Columbia have already raised the minimum age on Tobacco products to 21.
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