E-cigarette in New York

US - New York: Senate Bill S2133 has been introduced. It would ban the sale of e-cigarettes that contain certain toxic metals, and require the state Department of Health to study the long-term health effects of vaping.

US - New York: Westchester County legislators have voted to ban the sale of flavoured tobacco products, including menthol-flavoured products. The county-wide ban will come into effect in six months. Local media reports differing opinions in the community. Supporters said the ban would be a victory for “young people and the Black community”, citing data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). On the other hand, critics said the ban could lead to a black market in flavoured products, especially menthol cigarettes. Others said it may harm local businesses, especially those near other areas where there is no such ban. Westchester County, north of New York City, has a population of almost 1m.

US - New York: The state police have issued a statement on the status of Operation Vaporizer, which was launched in August, targeting sales of flavoured nicotine vapes to minors. Officers found several retailers in Herkimer and Oneida counties selling to under-21s, and charged several people with endangering the welfare of a child. The department added that further arrests were pending.

New York State: County executive Adam Bello has announced that Monroe County’s Department of Environmental Services is partnering with a waste disposal company to collect and dispose of used vape devices and e-liquids. Monroe County, on the shore of Lake Ontario in upstate New York is the first county in the state to set up such a service. “Vaping is not only a public health issue, it is an environmental issue,” Bello said.

US - New York: Assembly Bill 9879 has been introduced, which would make it illegal for anyone under 21 to possess vaping or tobacco products. Their sale to under-21s is already prohibited.