According to halfwheel, a business website, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States has yet to finalize regulations that would ban the sale of flavored cigars and menthol cigarettes, some states have taken action, and Michigan could be the next state to do so.
Last month, the Michigan Senate introduced legislation in the form of Senate Bill 649 that proposes a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco and vaping products. According to the bill, any product, aside from unflavored tobacco, that possesses or is advertised as having distinct flavors would be classified as flavored tobacco and vaping products.
In addition, the bill also prohibits the sale of products that directly or indirectly indicate distinctive flavors of nicotine or tobacco products. While the bill does not exempt any flavored cigars, it does indeed contain a provision that grants an exemption for the sale of flavored hookah tobacco.
According to this bill, retailers may potentially face the following fines if they violate the regulation. First offense within 36 months: fines up to $1,500; second offense within 36 months: fines of $2,000 and a 30-day suspension of business license; third offense within 36 months: fines of $2,500 and a one-year suspension of business license; fourth offense within 36 months: fines of $3,000 and revocation of business license.
In order to aid the enforcement of new regulations, a new fund will be established to conduct compliance inspections.
