Michael Gwarisa
In a move likely to curb rising youth vaping in the Global North, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued new draft guidance for flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), establishing the first regulatory framework that emphasises device-level age verification to prevent underage use.
Flavored ENDS have long been linked to youth vaping, with surveys showing that many illicit flavored products are accessible to minors. The FDA’s guidance highlights advanced technologies such as biometric authentication, geofencing, and continuous age verification as key tools to ensure only adults can use these devices. Traditional safeguards, like local age restrictions or point-of-sale verification, may not be enough on their own to prevent youth access, the agency notes.
This regulatory shift carries significant public health implications. Companies like Ispire Technology, through its joint venture IKE Tech, are developing interoperable age-gating technologies built directly into vaping devices. Early validation studies show these systems achieved 100% prevention of device activation by underage users, with high accuracy and ease of use for adults.
Experts say widespread adoption of such technologies could sharply reduce youth exposure to flavored nicotine products while maintaining adult access to regulated alternatives, creating a safer, compliant vaping ecosystem.
“This guidance is a major step toward protecting youth while preserving adult choice,” said Michael Wang, Co-CEO of Ispire. “Device-level verification provides an evidence-based safeguard that traditional measures alone cannot achieve.”
With roughly 70% of the U.S. flavored vape market operating outside legal channels, the FDA’s framework could help shift the industry toward safer, regulated products. Public health advocates view this as an opportunity to combine technology, regulation, and education to minimize youth vaping and reduce risks tied to illicit products.
