The FDA's Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) has reported significant progress in regulating tobacco use, highlighted by over 1.5 million inspections of tobacco retailers and manufacturers, resulting in more than 140,000 warning letters and 34,000 civil penalties for underage sales violations. In the past two years, the agency has taken unprecedented actions against e-cigarette manufacturers, including the first civil penalties for illegal sales and judicial seizures of products.

The CTP's public health campaign, \"The Real Cost,\" has reportedly prevented 100,000 youths from smoking and saved billions in smoking-related costs. Smoking rates have dropped dramatically, with cigarette use halving over the past 15 years, reaching the lowest levels ever recorded in the U.S. Recent data from the FDA and CDC indicates that youth e-cigarette use is at its lowest in a decade, marking a significant public health achievement.

However, the CTP faces a critical funding challenge, as its operations are entirely reliant on user fees that have not been updated to reflect the current tobacco market. The agency's fiscal year 2025 budget requests an additional $114 million in tobacco user fees, indexed for inflation, and seeks authority to assess fees on all regulated tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. These funds are deemed essential for enhancing enforcement and product review efforts.

As the CTP prepares to implement a new five-year strategic plan, officials emphasize the need for collaboration with Congress and other stakeholders to secure the necessary resources to continue their regulatory efforts effectively.