New FDA rules in effect on e-cigarettes, cigars, hookah

WASHINGTON (WPVI) -- For the first time, the FDA's regulation on tobacco now extends to electronic cigarettes, cigars, and hookah.

The new rules went into effect today.

They ban the sale of e-cigarettes to anyone under 18.

Companies must also get government approval for their product, and put health warnings on the products and advertisements.

But makers have flooded the market with new products in the past few months, trying to beat the August 8 deadline.

The makers, including the big tobacco companies, can keep their products on the market bringing in profits during the approval process, which may take up to three years.

While smoking of tobacco cigarettes has declined in recent years, vaping - the use of the electronic versions - has boomed.

Electronic cigarettes are now a $4 billion a year business, and recent studies indicate teens may be turning to vaping as much, or more, than tobacco.

The FDA's new rules will also regulate cigars, pipe tobacco and hookah tobacco.