The proposed settlement between the Utah Department of Health and the Utah Vapor Business Association, which represents vaping manufacturers and wholesalers, would allow Utah retailers to sell vape pens with a higher nicotine concentration than is currently legal.
Current regulations were designed to safeguard the health of Utah’s youth and reduce the risk of nicotine addiction, KPCW reports.
Two years ago, Utah set a limit of 3 percent nicotine by weight per container. If the proposed settlement goes through, that could increase to 5 percent by weight.
Newspaper reports state the U.S. Food and Drug Administration limits the amount of nicotine to 5 percent by weight. The FDA has not set a maximum nicotine level, according to the FDA.
But opponents want to prevent the increase. Gayle Ruzika, who serves as president of the Eagle Forum, a conservative lobbying organization, as well as Drug Safe Utah, says this is a non-partisan issue.
If the state doesn’t settle, Ruzika says the issue would go back to court, which she believes would be worth it.
The Department of Health and Human Services is accepting public comment on the proposed settlement. The deadline to submit comments is Monday, July 17, the day of the public hearing. Concerned individuals can email the Utah Department of Health and Human Services at comments@utah.gov.
The virtual public hearing agenda has been posted on the Utah Public Notice Website. The hearing starts at 10 a.m. July 17.