New Jersey lawmakers recently approved – and governor Phil Murphy signed - a bill that would ban the sale of flavored vaping products.
The legislation would also impose a minimum fine of US$250 for a first offence, $500 for a second offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense. A task force set up by Murphy last year recommended a ban on flavored vaping products and Murphy agreed with their recommendations.
However, Murphy did not sign A-5922, which was also based on recommendations from his task force. That bill sought to impose new barriers to under-age sales, cap the amount of nicotine in vape liquids at 2%, create a statewide tracking system for all e-cigarette products, boost the licensing fee for vape shops, and require retailers to install electronic systems to help verify that all customers are 21 or older.
Murphy explained his reasoning saying the bill offered only a “piecemeal approach to a problem that requires a comprehensive solution” and did not include the overhaul of the vapor business licensing system that he wanted.