On May 17, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee released a draft FY 2024 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Related Agencies bill that would ban the importation of these harmful and addictive disposable e-cigarettes.
While convenience stores have been planning for a possible future by taking a closer look at their tobacco shelf charts and having stores in California and Massachusetts remove flavored and menthol products from their shelves, certain Camel and Newport e-cigarette styles from RJ Reynolds Tobacco (RJRT) have been accused by California officials of being “presumed” to be flavored based on their promotional materials, and RJRT is making counterattack, saying its new styles are being marketed as explicitly menthol-free.
May 24 – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer announced over the weekend that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified U.S. Customs and Border Protection of its refusal to import a number of popular, unauthorized disposable e-cigarettes, including Elf Bar, Esco Bar. The FDA’s order is an important step in protecting the public health of children and youth in the North. They are often targeted by companies that offer cheap, brightly colored and flavored disposable e-cigarettes, which are highly addictive and dangerous.
Too many students are already struggling with e-cigarette addiction like the Genie Stick, which is why I stand with students across upstate New York to urge the Food and Drug Administration to investigate these deceptive companies and ban their harmful products from the market. It is our responsibility to protect our children and youth from these highly addictive and health-damaging e-cigarettes. I am proud and pleased that the FDA heeded my call to take these deceptive and dangerous products off the market and will continue to work to ensure the safety of our New York children.”
Prior to the announcement, Schumer visited Fulton Junior High School to raise awareness of the dangers that companies like Elf Bar pose to central New York classrooms and upstate schools. Elf Bar may be evading FDA regulations by spreading questionable ads and promotions on TikTok, Instagram and other social media platforms.