On November 6, 2024, the U.S. presidential election results were announced, with Donald Trump securing a second term as President of the United States. Throughout his campaign, Trump not only reaffirmed his support for e-cigarettes but also vowed to regulate flavored e-cigarettes in a way that protects adult users who wish to quit smoking, while preventing minors from accessing these products. On his social media platform, “Truth Social,” Trump wrote: “In 2019, I saved flavored e-cigarettes, which greatly helped people quit smoking. I also raised the minimum age to 21 to prevent ‘kids’ from getting them. Kamala Harris and Joe Biden want to ban everything, which led to small businesses across the country closing. I will save e-cigarettes again.”
During his first term, Trump’s administration introduced a limited ban on flavored e-cigarettes. Initially, he proposed a blanket ban on all flavored e-cigarette products, but after consulting with public health organizations and industry leaders, he adjusted his stance, highlighting that e-cigarettes can help adults quit smoking. In November 2019, his proposal temporarily banned the sale of all sweet and fruity-flavored e-cigarette pods but allowed gas stations and convenience stores to continue selling menthol-flavored products and e-cigarettes. The proposal also allowed vape shops to sell e-liquids for open systems, which are primarily used by adults.
With both Trump and Kennedy likely to push for reforms, significant changes in the regulation of e-cigarettes are anticipated. Trump has expressed a desire to balance the benefits of e-cigarettes for adult smokers with strong protections for youth, while Kennedy seems poised to implement more rigorous oversight of the industry. These shifts could impact the current regulatory framework, including the Premarket Tobacco Application (PMTA) process, which governs the approval of new e-cigarette products in the U.S.
Leave A Comment
Your email address will not be published.