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Head: Bill to Reform E-Liquid Manufacturing, Sales Passes General Assembly

STATEHOUSE – A bill authored by State Sen. Randy Head (R-Logansport) to reform the regulations for e-liquid manufacturers passed the General Assembly Friday, April 21.

E-liquids are the fluids used in e-cigarettes that create the vapor. Under current Indiana code, e-liquid manufacturers had to receive a certification from a private security firm by June 30, 2016, that met stringent security standards in order to continue to manufacture the product.

Senate Bill 1 lessens the requirements that e-liquid manufacturers have to meet in order to sell their product. It also lays out certain rules for e-liquid retailers.

E-liquids are defined in SB 1, specifying that an e-liquid may or may not contain nicotine and is a product intended to be vaporized and inhaled using a vapor product. Under SB 1, e-liquids containing nicotine must be labeled as such.

SB 1 removes many of the requirements previously put in place by the state, and instead requires manufacturers to comply with federal laws. Under the bill, the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC) will approve e-liquids manufacturing permits, and any e-liquids produced by an ATC-approved manufacturer prior to July 1, 2017 may be distributed and sold for retail until the expiration date of the e-liquids. Manufactures are required under SB 1 to include child-proof caps and identification codes on the e-liquids, as well as comply with federal standards.

In addition, retailers who sell e-liquids will be required to verify that the consumer is at least 18 years old.

“The Indiana General Assembly’s first attempt at regulating this new industry went too far,” Head said. “I believe that, with Senate Bill 1, we have cleared up some unnecessary restrictions while maintaining consumer safety. Issuing permits is a function of state government, and the state ought to do it, rather than having a single private company dole out permits.”

For more information on SB 1, click here.

Senator Randy Head (R-Logansport) represents Cass, Fulton, Miami and portions of Carroll, Kosciusko and Marshall counties