New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says he is taking executive action to ban the sale of most flavored e-cigarettes in the state.
Cuomo announced at a press conference Sunday that the state will prohibit all flavors except tobacco and menthol because flavored products are “highly attractive to young people.” He said that 68% of e-cigarette users use flavored products.
New York Dept. of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker will hold an emergency meeting with the New York Public Health and Health Planning Council (PHHPC) this week to carry out the ban, a press release from Cuomo’s office states.
The move comes amid two intertwined public health crises related to e-cigarette use, known as vaping. There has been a dramatic rise in youth and teenage vaping over the past few years, and the outbreak of mysterious vaping-related lung illnesses have brought new attention to the field.
Juul Labs, the leading e-cigarette company, has said its products are intended to be used as an alternative for adult cigarette smokers. But health officials say that the company’s range of flavors, such as Mint and Mango, are designed to appeal to young people.
Michigan became the first state to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes last week. The Trump administration has also said that a newly proposed enforcement policy would require e-cigarette companies to take their flavored products off the market.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids president Matthew L. Myers praised Cuomo’s executive action but said the governor should have banned the menthol flavor as well.
“The evidence is clear that if you leave any flavored e-cigarettes on the market, kids will shift to them,” Myers said in a statement. “That has already happened with mint and menthol e-cigarettes in the past year, and it will continue to happen if menthol e-cigarettes are left the market.”
Cuomo also announced Sunday he will advance legislation to ban deceptive marketing of e-cigarettes to teens and children, and he criticized the federal government for not taking action yet.
“Well, where is the federal government? Who knows where the federal government is,” Cuomo said Sunday. “I’m not waiting for the federal government to come protect the people of the state of New York. I’ve been disappointed time and time and time again.”
“So, our destiny is in our own hands, and we’re taking action,” he added.
In July, Cuomo signed a new law raising the age to buy all tobacco products in New York, including e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21. That change will take effect on November 13.
