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Oregon Pulls the Plug on Electronic Cigarette Maker

A leading electronic cigarette manufacturer has agreed to snuff out its sales in Oregon.

The state’s attorney general, John Kroger, said he took action against Smoking Everywhere Inc. to halt its sales because the company did not seek U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval before marketing its so-called e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to tobacco. In a statement, Kroger added that the company provided no evidence to back up its marketing claims.

Last year, Oregon became the first state to go to court to restrict the sale of e-cigarettes. In 2009, Kroger persuaded two travel store chains to stop selling e-cigarettes, and forced another e-cigarette company, Sottera Inc., to shut down in the state, The Associated Press reports.
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The FDA has warned consumers that e-cigarettes may contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze. It banned imports of the product last year, but the move was reversed in January by a judge who found that the agency overstepped its authority. The case goes to a federal appeals court next month.

Under the agreement with Oregon, Smoking Everywhere admits to violating the state’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act. It will pay more than $95,000 to the state Department of Justice. The company also is permanently barred from doing business in the state. Its president, Elico Taieb,will pay $25,000 and is banned from conducting any business related to tobacco, nicotine or drugs.

http://www.fairwarning.org/2010/08/oregon-pulls-the-plug-on-electronic-cigarette-maker/

See also:
Electronic Cigarette Manufacturer to Stop Selling Products in Oregon
http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/News/Daily/Pages/ND0811107.aspx