The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has banned tobacco products that contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals, including loose tobacco.
In a bulletin published on Tuesday, HHS released new guidelines for use and packaging of loose tobacco products.
The guidelines say that the product should be stored at room temperature and should not be smoked or absorbed into the mouth or eyes.
The rules also prohibit use in children under 18 years old.
The guidelines also say that “no tobacco product containing nicotine shall be used by a person under 18 without the person’s parent or guardian’s permission.”
The bulletin says that a person who does not have parental or legal permission to use a product in this manner may not consume or sell the product, and that a health care professional may revoke such permission.
A person can also use a tobacco product by putting it in a small bag and shaking it up, according to the bulletin.
“The risk to health is low if these products are used in moderation,” the bulletin states.
“However, a person using loose tobacco can experience a nicotine high, and a person can become addicted to the product.”
The FDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The agency said it is studying the guidelines and has received numerous questions about them.
“We are reviewing the guidance and working with the relevant health authorities to develop and disseminate the final rule,” a FDA spokesperson said in a statement.
The CDC said it had been reviewing the guidelines, which are based on a review of FDA data on loose tobacco and other tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes.
The rules include more than 1,500 examples of the product and its use, the CDC said.