PALM BEACH (Fla.) — Donald Trump said the federal government would soon announce a strategy to combat underage vaping. He promised, “We are going to be protecting our families, our children, and the industry.”
Trump did not specify what his plan was, but he suggested that “certain flavors” of cartridge-based electronic cigarettes would be removed from the market for “a period of time.”
The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that the Food and Drug Administration will ban the sale of most flavored electronic cigarettes, including those sold by Juul and NJOY. E-cigarette pods that taste like tobacco, menthol, or other flavors will still be permitted.
The Journal reported that vaping tanks, which are less common among teenagers, still allow users the ability to customize flavors. The Journal reported anonymous “people knowledgeable about the matter.”
In September, Trump and top health officials announced that they would remove virtually all flavors of e-cigarettes because of their appeal to young children and teenagers. Vaping lobbyists opposed the effort, and White House advisors warned Trump that a ban on flavored e-cigarettes could cost him votes from adults who vape.
All e-cigarettes must be reviewed by the FDA starting in May. Only those e-cigarettes that have a positive impact on public health in the United States will be allowed to remain on the market.
Trump said on Tuesday that a temporary ban on flavored electronic cigarettes might only be temporary. He told reporters that if the products are safe, he hopes they will be back on the market very soon.
The Republican president stated, “People have died because of this. They died from vaping.” “We believe we understand the reason. We’re conducting a thorough examination, and we hope to have everything back on the market in a very short time.
The FDA announced in advance that all e-cigarettes would be subject to a review starting in May. Only those e-cigarettes that have a positive impact on public health in the United States will be allowed to remain on the market.
Trump said in Florida: “Vaping is good for you. You look at e-cigarettes and you quit smoking. It’s an advantage to stop smoking. We think it will be back on the shelves very, very soon.”