Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends regulations related to the safety, sale, and advertisement of tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes.

Highlights:

• Prohibits marketing, advertising, or promoting any electronic nicotine delivery system in a manner that appeals to an individual under 21 years of age (Sec. 201).

• Prohibits marketing, advertising, promoting, or endorsing any electronic nicotine delivery system without clearly disclosing that the communication is an advertisement unless the communication is unambiguously identifiable as an advertisement, and prohibits compensating any person for such actions (Sec. 201).

• Defines “electronic nicotine delivery system” as a tobacco product that is an electrical device which delivers nicotine, flavor, or another substance via an aerosolized solution to the user inhaling from the device and any component, liquid, part, or accessory of such a device, including e-cigarettes, e-hookah, e-cigars, vape pens, advanced refillable personal vaporizers, and electronic pipes (Sec. 201).

• Prohibits a tobacco product that is not an electronic nicotine delivery system from containing an additive of an artificial or natural flavor that characterizes the flavor of the tobacco product, including menthol, mint, mango, strawberry, grape, orange, clove, cinnamon, pineapple, vanilla, coconut, licorice, cocoa, chocolate, cherry, or coffee (Sec. 103).

• Exempts cigars from pre-market review if the cigar (Sec. 108):

• Is wrapped in whole tobacco leaf; 

• Contains a 100 percent leaf tobacco binder; 

• Contains primarily long filler tobacco; 

• Does not have a characterizing flavor other than tobacco; 

• Weighs more than 6 pounds per 100 units; and

• Has no filter, tip, or non-tobacco mouthpiece.

• Establishes an excise tax on nicotine manufactured in or imported into the United States and used in vaping (Sec. 501).

• Requires the US Comptroller General to complete a study and submit its results to Congress on (Sec. 402):

• The relationship of e-cigarettes to tobacco cessation;

• The preception of the harmful effects of e-cigarettes; and

• The effects of secondhand exposure to smoke from e-cigarettes.

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text