South Carolina Senators Pass Bill to Restrict E-cigarette Sales

According to a report by FitsNews, bipartisan senators in South Carolina have voted to pass a bill proposing to ban the sale of all e-cigarette devices except for a few select types. This bill would increase enforcement of existing FDA regulations at the state level. The bill (S.994) would only allow retailers in South Carolina to sell devices that are currently FDA-approved, while temporarily allowing the sale of devices that are under federal official or court review.

Supporters of the bill cited the need to protect children from nicotine addiction in the state, while opponents believed that the legislation would benefit big tobacco companies and be a loss for adults who wish to quit smoking using e-cigarettes.

However, many tobacco industry giants support FDA regulation because the agency's mass rejections of their competitors can ensure that existing, well-resourced players maintain dominance in the market. If the legal case in South Carolina becomes law, new entrants will be prohibited from selling products in the state.

If the bill is passed in the House of Representatives, the e-cigarette registration bill in South Carolina will enter the state's House of Representatives research agenda.