Trump reportedly cools on plan to ban flavored e-cigarettes
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
President Trump has decided he will not sign a proposed ban on flavored e-cigarettes, The Washington Post and other outlets reported.
In September, the Trump administration announced plans to remove nontobacco-flavored e-cigarette products from the market following reports linking vaping to lung injuries. However, Trump declined to sign off on the decision on Nov. 4, fearing it might lead to job losses and potential harm to his reelection campaign, The Washington Post reported.
“The administration is misreading the political situation if it continues to backtrack on its commitment to remove the flavored e-cigarettes that have fueled the youth epidemic,” Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, told Infectious Diseases in Children. “The concern about youth use of e-cigarettes includes parents of all political beliefs and the failure to act will cost the administration far more votes than it will gain. Taking strong action to combat the youth e-cigarette crisis is one of the few issues where the American public is unified.”
Increased rates of vaping sales to underage children have been reported, raising public concern for the effect of e-cigarettes on teens. San Francisco recently passed an ordinance banning the sale of non-FDA approved e-cigarettes in response to various adverse health outcomes associated with vaping.
The American Heart Association issued a statement asking Trump to reconsider the decision, urging the administration to “stand with an overwhelming majority of the public that supports protecting kids from a patently addictive and harmful product.” Additionally, the AAP, American Academy of Family Physicians and several other health organizations released a joint statement asking the administration to implement the ban.
The FDA declined to comment on the president’s decision.
“President Trump and this administration are committed to responsibly protecting the health of children,” White House spokesman Judd Deere told The Washington Post. “At this time, we are in an ongoing rulemaking process, and I will not speculate on the final outcome.” – by Eamon Dreisbach
References:
Trump backing off banning vaping flavors popular with teens. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/trump-backing-off-banning-vaping-flavors-popular-with-teens/2019/11/18/bd9616ce-0a2b-11ea-8054-289aef6e38a3_story.html. Accessed Nov. 18, 2019.