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New York bans flavoured vaping products after breathing illnesses linked to e-cigarettes

PA
PA

New York has banned the sale of flavoured vaping products after a nationwide outbreak of e-cigarette-related lung illness.

The vote by the state Public Health and Health Planning Council means the emergency ban comes into effect immediately.

Retailers will have two weeks to remove merchandise from store shelves following the decision made in the US state on Tuesday.

The ban covers all flavoured cigarettes and other vaping products except for menthol and tobacco flavours,

Experts were still working to determine exactly what in vape products was causing the lung illnesses, which have affected mostly young people.

While its investigation continued, the US Centres for Disease Control recommended that people stop vaping.

Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, had proposed the emergency ban on Sunday, citing surging use among young people.

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According to data from the state health department, 27 per cent of high school students overall in the state use e-cigarettes.

Use among high-school students increased from 10.5 per cent in 2014 to 27.4 per cent in 2018.

Mr Cuomo pointed to vaping flavours like bubble gum and cotton candy that he said seemed aimed at young people.

"We don't really know the health consequences of these devices," he said on public radio.

Vape shop owners say they are considering a legal challenge to the new regulation, which they say should have gone before members of congress for hearings, debate and a vote.

Mike Kruger owns two vape shops in the Albany region and said the ban could force hundreds of businesses like his to close.

He said smokers looking to quit will have fewer options under the ban.

As for the breathing illnesses, Mr Kruger said he believes they are the result of people buying black market vape liquid, not the items he sells.

"We are bypassing the legislative process," he said of the ban.

Mr Kruger added that many adults seek out the flavoured versions. He himself prefers blue raspberry.

"Vaping has been around for 12 years. And now this."

The exemption for menthol was criticised by some health groups who are worried young people would switch to that variety.

It includes all types of flavoured vaping products, including disposable and refillable devices.

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