Congressman Krishnamoorthi Reaffirms Call To Ban All Flavored E-Cigarettes, Including Disposable E-Cigarettes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in the wake of NJOY's announcement that it would voluntarily cease all sales of fruit-flavored disposable e-cigarette, Congressman Krishnamoorthi reaffirmed his call for the FDA to ban all flavored e-cigarettes, including flavored disposable e-cigarettes. As was reported earlier today, youth users have quickly shifted to using disposable e-cigarettes following the FDA's implementation of its vaping flavor guidance with an exemption for disposables.

"NJOY's decision to halt the sale of its disposable flavored e-cigarettes is a welcome one as we witness the youth shift towards these products," said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. "I recently sent letters to NJOY and Blu requesting documents and information regarding their disposable flavored e-cigarettes, including sales data and the number of flavored disposable products that are already on the market and available to youth. I strongly urge Blu to follow suit and halt the sale of its flavored e-cigarette offerings, which come in flavors including Vivid Vanilla, Cherry, and Polar Mint."

"I remain disappointed with the FDA's decision to include special exemptions for disposable e-cigarettes and menthol flavors from the Trump flavor ban, even though we know both appeal to kids," said Krishnamoorthi. "How such exemptions, and in particular the exemption for flavored disposable products, were included in the first place will continue to be a major point of inquiry in our ongoing investigation."

Rep. Krishnamoorthi has led a fulsome investigation through the House Committee on Oversight and Reform into skyrocketing youth e-cigarette use, illegal marketing practices deployed by Big Tobacco, and the lack of regulatory action to combat youth vaping. He also introduced two legislative fixes that would address this crisis head-on. Below is a timeline of both the investigative and legislative actions taken by the Congressman:

• Introduced the PREVENT Act – December 12^th, 2019
• Hearing with FDA Director of Tobacco, Mitch Zeller – December 3^rd, 2019
• Introduced the END ENDs Act – October 7^th, 2019
• Hearing with CDC, Anne Schuchat – September 24^th, 2019
• Krishnamoorthi, King and Durbin launch End Youth Vaping Caucus – September 19^th, 2019
• HHS announces e-cigarette flavor ban, citing findings from Krishnamoorthi's investigation – September 11^th, 2019
• FDA warns JUUL Labs that its marketing and advertising is illegal, in response to Krishnamoorthi's letter and citing findings from his investigation – September 9^th, 2019
• Krishnamoorthi urges the FDA to deem JUUL's marketing and advertising illegal – September 5^th, 2019
• Hearing with JUUL Co-Founder, James Monsees – July 25^th, 201

###