According to a report from New York City media on April 4th, Mayor Eric Adams announced that the city has filed lawsuits against 11 e-cigarette distributors, accusing them of engaging in illegal sales of flavored disposable e-cigarettes. The 11 defendants are spread across Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, and the upper regions of New York State, and are accused of selling and providing flavors such as strawberry, mint, and blueberry that are highly popular among teenagers.
The lawsuit aims to prevent further sales of these illegal products and seeks damages and fines in accordance with state and city laws. This lawsuit is a complement to the federal lawsuit that the city government is planning to file in 2023, in which two defendants have already been barred by the court from selling and transporting flavored e-cigarettes in the city.
The 11 accused e-cigarette distributors include: EnvironMD Group LLC, GT Imports, Kayla Wholesale, Inc. (The Vapery), KLCC Wholesale Inc., V. Trading, LLC, Pioneer Distribution, Inc. (Wevapeusa.com, Supreme LLC), RZ Smoke Inc., Star Zone Inc., Urban Smoke Distributors, Vape More Inc. and More LLC, and Vape Plus Distribution Corp. (G&A Distribution).
Mayor Adams stated that he will enforce strict measures to combat the illegal sale of e-cigarettes. In January 2020, the FDA banned the sale of flavored e-cigarette products unless companies can prove that the benefits of the product outweigh its potential harm, but so far, no flavored e-cigarette company has met this standard. Additionally, New York City implemented a comprehensive ban on possessing and selling flavored e-cigarettes in 2020, both in retail stores and online. Furthermore, New York State and many other cities also prohibit the retail sale of flavored e-cigarettes. The federal Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act also prohibits any e-cigarette sales other than in-person sales, unless the sale complies with all state and local laws in the jurisdiction where the sale occurs. According to the New York City Administrative Code, selling flavored disposable e-cigarettes is impossible.
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