Bipartisan E-Cig Bill Would Ban Flavors, Add Taxes
The measure would restrict and tax electronic cigarettes for the first time at the federal level.
Sep 20, 2019
WASHINGTON—Yesterday, Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Pete King (R-NY) introduced a proposal to ban flavored e-cigarettes and tax the products for the first time at the national level, Politico reports. The proposed tax would be the equivalent of $3 per pack of cigarettes, while tripling the federal taxes on traditional cigarettes to reach $3 per pack, as well.
“I’ve been increasingly concerned by the number of teenagers who use and are becoming addicted to e-cigarettes,” Rep. Suozzi said in a statement. “I’ve become even more disturbed in recent weeks since we’ve learned that hundreds of people have contracted a mysterious vaping-related lung disease that has killed at least seven people.”
In the Senate, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) have a similar bill to ban flavored vaping products and tax e-cigs. Already, 19 states and the District of Columbia have added taxes on e-cigarettes. This week, California announced it will launch a public awareness campaign about the dangers of vaping. Michigan and New York recently banned vaping flavors.
Last week, the Trump Administration announced that the Food and Drug Administration will finalize a compliance policy in the coming weeks aimed at clearing the marketplace of unauthorized, non-tobacco-flavored e-cigarette products, including mint-, menthol- and fruit-flavored vape products.
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