Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) released the following statement after today’s announcement that the administration will remove flavored e-cigarettes from the market:

            “I approve of moves by the administration to outlaw flavored e-cigarettes. With flavors like strawberry lemonade and cotton candy, it’s clear these products are being marketed to children, and this needs to stop.

            “We saw the same pattern with tobacco products, where flavored tobacco was marketed to children with the goal of getting them addicted at a young age. We can’t allow the same to happen with e-cigarettes.

            “I plan to track the administration’s actions on this issue closely. If administrative action proves insufficient, we have already introduced legislation to outlaw flavored e-cigarettes.

            “Any plan that falls short of an immediate and full ban on all flavored e-cigarettes will be inadequate.”

Background

            Earlier this year, Senator Feinstein introduced the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act. This bipartisan bill would prevent online sales of electronic cigarettes to minors by applying the same safeguards already in place for regular cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products.

            Specifically, the bill would require e-cigarette online retailers to:

• Verify the age of customers for all purchases.
• Require an adult with ID to be present for delivery.
• Label shipping packages to show they contain tobacco products.
• Comply with all state and local tobacco tax requirements.