Walmart to Stop Selling E-Cigarettes
The retail giant cites uncertain regulatory climate.
Sep 23, 2019
BENTONVILLE, Ark.—Walmart announced Friday it will stop selling all electronic cigarettes as it sells through its current inventory. The retail giant cited the regulatory uncertainty surrounding vaping products amid White House plans to ban most flavored e-cigarettes.
The move applies to both Walmart and Sam’s Clubs stores in the United States, the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Given the growing federal, state and local regulatory complexity and uncertainty regarding e-cigarettes, we plan to discontinue the sale of electronic nicotine delivery products at all Walmart and Sam's Club U.S. locations,” Walmart said in a statement. “We will complete our exit after selling through current inventory.”
As reported in NACS Daily, the Trump Administration last week announced that the Food and Drug Administration intends to ban non-tobacco-flavored e-cigarette products, including mint-, menthol- and fruit-flavored vape products.
In May, Walmart said it would raise the minimum age to 21 to purchase tobacco products across all U.S. stores starting July 1 and also discontinue the sale of fruit- and dessert-flavored electronic cigarettes as part of efforts to battle increased vaping among teens.
Compliance and regulations Compliance and regulations Inventory management Tobacco
