NewsLocal NewsWestern Montana News

Actions

Trump administration to clear market of most e-cigarette cartridge flavors, but not menthol

Posted at 10:17 PM, Jan 02, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-03 10:07:11-05

The FDA announced new steps to try to stop the teen vaping epidemic. But the policy stopped short of what health experts demanded.

The Trump Administration announced a crack down on flavored e-cigarettes, promising to remove the products that are most popular with young people. That includes mint, fruit and dessert flavored cartridges.

"The enforcement policy we are issuing today confirms our commitment to dramatically limit children's access to certain flavored e-cigarette products we know are so appealing to them," said Stephen Hahn, FDA Commissioner.

Anti- Tobacco group immediately objected saying policy stops short because both Tobacco and menthol flavored products will be allowed to stay on the market.

"Kids who were using flavors like mint will simply move over to menthol," said Matt Myers, the President of Tobacco Free Kids.

The department of health and human services said virtually all e-cigarettes on the market are illegal.

Having failed to apply to the FDA for authorization banned flavors will be the priority of this enforcement action and will be removed from shelves within 30 days.

For all electronic nicotine products manufacturers have until mid May to apply for an application.

"It will be nothing short of criminal if the FDA allowed the flavored products that have caused over 5 million of our youth under the age of 18 to use these products to get back on the market," said Myers.

An 18-year-old Chance Ammirata was one of those youths and told by CBS last year it may have contributed to his lung injury.

"I just freaked out and they told me your lung has collapsed," said Ammirata. "You have to go to surgery right now."

The policy will apply to closed cartridge pods but not to the refillable e-liquids sold in vape shops which are most popular with adults.

The American Vaping Association responded in a statement, saying that banning flavors in closed systems will result in more adults smoking conventional cigarettes.