Yet big chemical manufacturers are not required to disclose ingredients on labels.
Critics say more is needed to disclose ingredients like milk, peanuts, eggs and fish that can provoke life-threatening reactions.
Mr. Weiss favors regulation that would require companies to disclose ingredients, set manufacturing standards and prohibit sales to minors, but he objects to restrictions on marketing.
Craig Weiss, the chief executive of NJOY, the second-largest e-cigarette company, said he favored regulation that would require companies to disclose ingredients, adhere to manufacturing standards and require age verification for purchase.
"Most consumers of feminine hygiene products have almost invariably only been exposed to disposable products, and brand loyalty is entrenched at an early age," says Shaw. "Most consumers are also unaware of questionable ingredients in disposable products, or even the fact that manufacturers are not legally required to disclose ingredients in the first place".
But Mr. Parrish said the company would be willing to talk with federal officials like those at the F.D.A. and others, including antismoking advocates, about regulating cigarettes in such areas as marketing and selling to young people, disclosing ingredients and conducting research on safer products.
In fact, tampon and sanitary pad manufacturers aren't required to disclose ingredients because feminine hygiene products are considered "medical devices".
Manufacturers aren't required to disclose ingredients in tampons and pads since they're considered medical devices by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but what we do know about the makeup of these products has compelled health experts and sustainability advocates to raise the alarm.
Products classified as medical devices need not disclose ingredients on packaging, which has led WVE to petition tampon manufacturers to start listing this information.
The EPA will consider many other issues as it makes its decision, such as how to disclose ingredients (on the label, on a website, via a telephone system, etc)., where to draw the line if less than 100% of ingredients are labeled, whether to prohibit use of any inert deemed hazardous, and how quickly to require implementation of any changes.
