A bill banning the sale of flavored tobacco products and flavored vape products has lapsed after the US state of Vermont adjourned its General Assembly for a year.
SB 18 would ban the sale of e-cigarette products, such as vaping oils and other tobacco products that have a characteristic flavor other than tobacco.
Like bills recently proposed in other states, the bill contains a provision that would treat a product as flavoring if a company claims it has a distinguishable taste or aroma different from that of tobacco, according to Halfwheel.
The Vermont Senate passed SB 18 in late March, but it failed to make it out of the Vermont House Public Service Committee.
Several northeastern states have banned or are considering banning flavor. A bill has also been introduced in Connecticut that would ban flavored e-cigarettes. New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island have banned the sale of flavored vape products. Massachusetts bans all flavored tobacco products, including flavored cigars, cigarettes and e-cigarette products.
Vermont’s ban was first proposed in early 2020 as a way to prevent teen use, but was put on hold after the Covid-19 pandemic began to affect the state.