E-Cigarette Maker Halts Oregon Sales

A leading US manufacturer of e-cigarettes has agreed to halt sales in Oregon in response to a lawsuit brought by the Oregon Department of Justice last year, the Associated Press reported Aug. 10.

Attorney General John Kroger announced Aug. 9 that US e-cigarette producer, Smoking Everywhere, Inc., would discontinue sales in the state. 

According to Kroger, the e-cigarette manufacturer had not sought U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval prior to marketing its products and had provided no evidence that e-cigarettes were safe for consumers, thus violating Oregon's Unlawful Trade Practices Act. He also stated concerns that the company was marketing to children.

Smoking Everywhere acknowledged violating the trade act in its settlement with the state and agreed to stop Oregon sales and to pay more than $95,000 to the state Department of Justice. The company had declined a state request to restrict sales in 2009, which lead to the lawsuit.