FDA Stakeholder Update - November 16, 2018

Dear Colleague,

FDA’s 2018 Strategic Policy Roadmap, identified four priority areas that help further our commitment to advance public health and over the past week, FDA has had some notable news and statements that are important to highlight. The four key priority areas are:

1. Reduce the burden of addiction crises that are threatening American families
2. Leverage innovation and competition to improve health care, broaden access, and advance public health goals
3. Empower consumers to make better and more informed decisions about their diets and health; and expand the opportunities to use nutrition to reduce morbidity and mortality from disease
4. Strengthen FDA’s scientific workforce and its tools for efficient risk management

Key Priority #1: Reduce the burden of addiction crises that are threatening American families

• Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on proposed new steps to protect youth by preventing access to flavored tobacco products and banning menthol in cigarettes - As a physician who cared for hospitalized cancer patients, I saw first-hand the devastation that smoking-related diseases had wrought on the lives of patients and their families, and dedicated myself to helping ease this suffering. Read the entire statement posted on November 15, 2018
• Results from 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey show dramatic increase in e-cigarette use among youth over past year - FDA and CDC released new findings from the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) showing that more than 3.6 million middle and high school students were current (past 30 day) e-cigarette users in 2018, a dramatic increase of more than 1.5 million students since last year. According to the results published in today’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (which will be made public at 1 p.m. ET), youth who use e-cigarettes also are using them more frequently and using flavored products more often than last year. Read the full News Release posted on November 15, 2018
• Eliminating Youth Electronic Cigarette Use: The Role for Drug Therapies Public Hearing on December 5, 2018 - FDA will hold a public hearing to discuss the effort to eliminate youth electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use as well as other tobacco product use, with a focus on the potential role of drug therapies to support cessation and the issues impacting the development of such therapies.Read Public Hearing Announcement

Key Priority #3: Empower consumers to make better and more informed decisions about their diets and health; and expand the opportunities to use nutrition to reduce morbidity and mortality from disease

• FDA to Hold Four Public Meetings to Discuss Draft Produce Safety Rule Guidance - FDA will hold four one-day public meetings to discuss the recently published draft guidance created to help farmers meet the requirements of the Produce Safety Rule.
  • November 27, 2018: Meeting in Portland Oregon (Registration will close on November 16, 2018) Register for meeting
  • November 29, 2018: Meeting in Anaheim, California (Registration will close on November 16, 2018) Register for meeting
  • December 11, 2018: Meeting in Albany, New York (Registration will close on November 23, 2018) Register for meeting
  • December 13, 2018: Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia (Registration will close on November 23, 2018) Register for meeting

 

 

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office FDAStakeholderEngagementTeam@fda.hhs.gov