New Minimum Age for Tobacco Purchase/Possession in VA
The Virginia Assembly approved a measure that revises Virginia Code to increase minimum age requirements to 21 for purchase or possession of tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, and alternative nicotine products. The change is effective July 1, 2019.
The revised Code can be found Virginia’s Legislative Information System here.
For Studies that Use Tobacco Products, Nicotine Vapor Products, or Alternative Nicotine Products
PIs who submit studies to the VCU IRB that involve use of products subject to the revised code should:
- Amend the study’s age-related eligibility criteria to include a lower limit of 21 years of age.
- Consider how the PI will address existing participants under the age of 21, for example:
- For participants who are already enrolled in the study, who have not reached the age of 21 prior to July 1, 2019, and whose participation would otherwise continue, the PI may need to create a process for orderly withdrawal from the study.
- For participants who have not reached the age of 21 but whose involvement in the study is complete prior to July 1, 2019, the PI may not need to take any additional steps.
For Studies About Tobacco Products, Nicotine Vapor Products, or Alternative Nicotine Products
PIs who submit studies to the VCU IRB that are about these products or about their use do not need to amend the eligibility criteria. Such studies might be survey or registry studies; for example, a study that surveys user preferences between traditional tobacco products and vapor products.
The PI should consider whether their current measures to protect confidentiality are sufficient in light of the changes to Virginia Code.
Questions?
Contact the VCU IRB with questions at: ORSP@vcu.edu, or 804-828-0868.