Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird praised a federal appeals court ruling last week that allows the state’s vape registry law to take effect, calling it a victory for protecting children from illegal tobacco products. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated an injunction that had blocked enforcement of HF 2677, legislation requiring vape product manufacturers to register with state authorities. The law was created to keep unregulated foreign vapes from being sold in the state. Bird says, “Illegal Chinese vapes generate over $11 billion in annual retail sales and make up more than 80% of all vape sales nationwide. China markets these candy-flavored vapes, with flavors like cotton candy and blue raspberry, to American kids while they are banned in their own country. They mislabel these unregulated products full of carcinogens to slip through customs—putting Iowa kids at risk. As a mom and a prosecutor, I am grateful for the decision of the court to uphold Iowa’s vape registry law to inform and protect Iowans from these illegal foreign vapes.” The circuit court’s complete 18-page ruling is included below.
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