The U.S. House of Representatives has not yet voted on a bill that would end online sales of vapor products to minors. The bill has been “held at desk” for nearly a month. No announcement has been made for when the House would bring the bill to the floor.
On July 1, the U.S. Senate passed the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act (S.1253) by unanimous consent. The legislation aims end online e-cigarette sales to minors by applying the same measures that are required when traditional cigarettes are purchased online.
The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) said it strongly supports S. 1253, which “ensures responsible retailing of e-cigarettes and age verification across all channels. The legislation would require online sellers of e-cigarettes to ensure the delivery carrier verifies the age of the recipient upon delivery. It would also require online sellers to collect and remit the appropriate state and local taxes,” according to a story on the NACS website.
These rules are already in place for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products purchased over the internet after Congress passes the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act, in 2010. Language for vapor products was not included in the law.
The House passed its version of the bill (H.R. 3942) on suspension. Given that the Senate bill is slightly different than the House version, the House will need to pass the Senate’s version before it can become law, according to NACS.