Washington, DC - The FTC is asking the Office of Management and Budget for clearance to study sales, marketing, and expenditures in a complex new industry whose products have attracted a lot of attention. The proposed subject: e-cigarettes.

Rather than burning tobacco, e-cigarettes heat a liquid mixture (usually including nicotine) to produce an inhaled aerosol. We plan to ask for information from about 15 e-cigarette marketers to help us better understand this rapidly growing sector.

Of course, the utility of any research depends on thoughtful design at the outset. That’s why the Federal Register Notice asks for public comment on the need for the study, the kind of data we should collect, and ways to enhance the quality of the information without imposing an undue burden. If you have feedback about what we’ve proposed, file it online.