Oregon Attorney General seeks to prohibit sales of electronic cigarettes
Published on August 4, 2009 8:24 AM
Last Thursday, the Oregon Department of Justice submitted two documents, which would ban two store chins from distributing e-cigs across Oregon.
The landmark action would bar Oregon population from purchasing hazardous and possibly poisonous devices which the American Food and Drug Administration has named dangerous for human consumption.
Spokesperson for Oregon attorney general, Linda Taylor said that in case some products represent a menace to the health of Oregon residents, the Attorney would not hesitate to take corresponding actions to stop the sales of tobacco products. She added that if sellers want to vend the devices across Oregon, they should present the scientific evidence regarding the safety of their products.
The ban would affect two national store chains, TA Operating with four stores across the state and Pilot Travel Centers owning seven stores. Both chains are selling “NJOY” e-cigarettes.
They so-called e-cigs resemble traditional cigarettes in the appearance but contain a battery inside, used to heat a cartridge with liquid nicotine and, as it was recently revealed, numerous other toxic chemicals, including a component of antifreeze. When nicotine is heated it is delivered directly to the lungs of the user, evaporating a white smoke, to mimic the secondhand smoke of common cigarettes.
Although the FDA detained shipments of electronic cigarettes and even filled “Import Alerts” against their distributors in United States, the devices keep selling in more than 4 thousand stores across America.
Sales continued even despite warnings from the FDA regarding severe health complications related to the use of electronic cigarettes. The FDA experts carried out a series of laboratory tests finding the carcinogens in nicotine cartridges of the devices, as well as other toxic chemicals.
When the FDA revealed its findings, the Oregon Attorney General had already begun investigating the distribution and advertising of e-cigarettes.
Oregon Department of Justice stated that protection of consumers has been an issue of primary importance for them during the last couple of years. The Attorney General’s office has applied many efforts to protect people for deceptive advertising, scams and hazardous products.
The ordinance made public last Thursday forbids the distribution of electronic cigarettes across Oregon until receiving the approval from the FDA.
Meantime, several e-cigarettes sellers have filled lawsuits against the FDA, claiming that the agency is not entitled to regulate their products. Yet, even in case the court rules that the FDA has no authority to regulate these devices, the ordinance specifies that electronic cigarettes can not be distributed across Oregon unless they receive reliable evidence proving the safety of these devices.
Moreover, all sellers would have to provide the Attorney General with advance notification that they plan to vend e-cigarettes across Oregon, giving copies of all advertising material and scientific proof that the products are safe and contain the same amount of nicotine as it was written on their packaging.
