San Francisco to ban e-cigarettes lacking FDA approval News
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San Francisco to ban e-cigarettes lacking FDA approval

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday in favor of an ordinance banning the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes in the city. The ordinance will now be presented to the mayor, who will have 10 days to sign the legislation.

Many cities and states have already raised the legal age for purchasing tobacco products to 21, with federal legislation already proposed. Nevertheless, there is concern about the increasing number of teenagers using e-cigarettes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that vaping can lead to smoking traditional cigarettes.

The proposed ordinance will make the sale of e-cigarettes illegal in local stores and online when shipping to San Francisco addresses. The prohibition only applies to e-cigarettes lacking FDA approval. Currently, e-cigarettes are not required to go through the FDA’s pre-market approval process before sale and distribution. The deadline to submit applications was originally set for a 2018 deadline but has been extended to 2022. Addressing this gray area, the ordinance will only allow sale of e-cigarettes after receiving this FDA approval. The ban will go into effect seven months after its passage.

Additionally, the city supervisors passed a complementary ordinance on Tuesday further blocking the sale, manufacture and distribution of e-cigarettes specifically on city property.

San Francisco is home to Juul Labs, the biggest producer of e-cigarettes in the US. Juul is expected to resist the legislation and move toward lobbying efforts to keep e-cigarettes in the city. Furthermore, Juul currently leases office space from the city, but since the ordinance does not apply retroactively, they will not be required to move.

Mayor London Reed has stated she intends sign the ordinance, making San Francisco the first city to impose a hardline prohibition. Similarly, Beverly Hills City Council earlier this month banned the sale of tobacco products beginning 2021 with exceptions for some cigar lounges/hotels.