Governor Mills Welcomes New Federal Policy on Flavored E-Cigarette Products

Augusta, Maine - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalized a new enforcement policy Thursday on unauthorized flavored cartridge based e-cigarettes that appeal to children including fruit or mint flavors. Companies that do not cease the manufacture, distribution or sale of such products within 30 days risk enforcement actions. Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement welcoming the policy:

“As recent data show, more young people in Maine and across the nation are vaping despite the documented health risks,” said Governor Mills. “Today’s announcement of a new FDA policy on flavored e-cigarette products, as well as the new federal restriction on tobacco use for people under 21, are steps in the right direction to keep these dangerous products out of the hands of our young people.”

Last month, Governor Mills ordered a full-scale education campaign to warn Maine youth about the risks of addiction and lung damage from vaping. In the coming weeks, the Administration will explore other strategies related to e-cigarette use to protect the health and welfare of Maine people.

The Maine CDC released data showing that 28.7 percent of Maine high school students report currently using e-cigarettes (at least one time in the past 30 days), an increase from 15.3 percent in 2017. The increase aligns with the most recent data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey, which show that 27.5 percent of high school students throughout the United States report having used e-cigarettes within the past 30 days, an increase from 11.7 percent in 2017.

“Almost every week, new information emerges that elevates concerns about the health risks posed by e-cigarette products,” said Nirav D. Shah, Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. “Lungs are meant for air. Inhaling these products increases the potential for short-and long-term lung injuries. People who don’t vape should not start and we encourage those who do to seek help in quitting.”