Troutman Pepper Locke Tobacco Practice

An article by the Troutman Sanders tobacco practice appears in the February issue of Smokeshop Magazine.  The article, titled “E-Cigs at the Forefront,” discusses the growing momentum for state-level regulation of tobacco product alternatives, with e-cigarettes attracting the most attention. The full text of the article can be found here.

On February 26, 2014, the European Parliament approved the revised Tobacco Products Directive (the “Revised Directive”), which governs the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products in the European Union.  This Revised Directive was passed by the European Parliament more than ten years after approval of the Tobacco Products Directive (the “Directive”).  Prior to approval by the European Parliament, the Revised Directive was recommended by the European Union Member States.  The Revised Directive will now be reviewed by the European Council, and is scheduled to take effect in 2016.

Missouri, the last remaining state in which nonparticipating manufacturers (“NPMs”) can obtain allocable share releases from their escrow payments, has again introduced legislation to repeal the release mechanism. The bill, House Bill 1242, was introduced on January 8, 2014 and has been referred to and is pending before the House Budget Committee.

Troutman Sanders tobacco team partner Bryan Haynes was quoted in a February 20th article titled “E-cig industry on tenterhooks ahead of U.S. regulation.”

The article discusses the heavy cloud of speculation hanging over the rapidly expanding e-cigarette industry as it awaits the release of deeming regulations by the FDA.  In addition to concerns over potential advertising restrictions, flavoring bans, and the regulation of internet sales, the article also discusses how regulations could affect this relatively new segment of the tobacco industry when it comes to its rapidly changing product dynamic.