Recently, according to KPLC television reported that a new law in Louisiana is in the pipeline, because of its regulation of nicotine products, the market is expected to reduce the electronic cigarette products on the market next.
The new law, which is expected to take effect on November 1, requires all e-cigarette product manufacturers to register their products with the Louisiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC). Products cannot be legally sold in the state without approval. In the meantime, a list of products that have not been approved will be published on November 1.
Bilal Wardariya, a vape shop owner, said:
“Each store is going to have about 30 to 40 percent fewer products. It’s not only going to affect our sales, it’s going to affect our wages, it’s going to affect our expenses, it’s going to affect our business much worse than we thought.”
The legislation stems from a bill to increase taxes on e-cigarettes, which have tripled this year. However, Vardaria said restricting e-cigarette use goes too far.
He says:
“I think this e-cigarette ban has had a negative impact on this state in many ways, not only on the people, but on the state as a whole because we provide a lot of tax revenue.” Overall, I’d like to see this resolved and hopefully we can continue to sell and maintain the process we’ve had for years.”
Other vape shops in the region agree that this will affect business, but they believe that the state government and consumers will suffer the same pain.
For products to continue to be sold, an application fee of $100 per product is required and approval by the ATC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is required.