New York could try to keep alive flavoured e-cigarette ban

ALBANY, N.Y. – New York’s ban on flavoured e-cigarettes is still held up in court but the state may try to keep it alive and expand it to include menthol.

The state’s Public Health and Health Planning Council is set to vote Thursday to keep the emergency ban on the books for another 90 days. The council had approved the ban in September but a state appeals court blocked the state from enforcing it in October.

Council members could also vote Thursday to ban menthol e-cigarette flavouring.

In October, a state appeals court temporarily blocked New York from enforcing its prohibition on sales of flavoured e-cigarettes after the vaping industry sued to block the ban. The rules were set to expire this month but the council could renew the regulations for another 90 days.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said a vote to keep it alive would make sure New York has the emergency regulations on the books if the courts uphold the ban. “While our scheduled enforcement of this ban has been delayed by pending litigation, we are confident that the court will agree that this is a public health emergency demanding immediate action to help ensure the wellbeing of our children,” spokeswoman Jill Montag said.

New York’s prohibition covering flavoured e-cigarettes and other vaping products except for menthol and tobacco flavours went into effect immediately. Retailers initially had two weeks to remove merchandise from store shelves.

Health officials issued the regulations in response to worries that vaping may cause illnesses and that its use is growing among teenagers. According to data from the state health department, use among high-school students increased from 10.5% in 2014 to 27.4% in 2018.

Critics including the Vapor Technology Association argued the bans are governmental overreach that will hurt small businesses selling e-cigarettes and adult smokers who say flavours help them quit. The opponents have argued states should address improper marketing to kids and follow New York’s move to raise the statewide smoking age to 21.

But supporters such as the American Cancer Society’s advocacy group said they’ll continue pushing for New York’s ban on flavoured e-cigarettes and for laws to make similar restrictions permanent. The groups want New York to ban all flavoured tobacco, and argue flavouring can attract kids to tobacco products and get them hooked.

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said he would move to expand New York’s flavour ban to include menthol.

Anti-tobacco and -vaping groups say there’s no scientific basis for leaving menthol alone. They warn menthol has been unethically marketed toward African Americans, and that mint and menthol flavours can still increase the appeal of e-cigarettes for young people who aren’t smokers by overcoming the harshness of nicotine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says nearly 2,300 confirmed and probable cases of lung illnesses and 48 deaths nationwide have been attributed to vaping. The CDC says laboratory findings suggest vaping products with vitamin E or THC has played a major role in the outbreak.