Njoy announces discontinuation of flavors and other steps to protect young people

Today Njoy, a leading electronic cigarette manufacturer announced they will be discontinuing the sale of any flavored nicotine cartridges except tobacco and menthol in the US market to bring their offerings in line with the requirements of traditional cigarettes by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. They anticipate the new flavor policy to be in full force by spring 2010. 

Jack Leadbeater, CEO of Njoy said "Electronic cigarettes represent a smoking alternative for adult committed smokers. We have no interest in marketing or selling our products to underage smokers and have taken numerous steps over the years to prevent youth access to our products. We hope other members of our industry will act responsibly and either follow our lead or innovate even better methods to ensure proper product use.”

The company further outlined the steps they have already taken to discourage the underage use of Electronic Cigarettes, including:

• Njoy requires consumers to verify their age on their website and during the check out process.
• Retailers of the Njoy brand are directed to comply with the strict sales regulations that apply to regular tobacco cigarettes.
• Independent distributors must sign agreements that bind them to make the best efforts to avoid marketing to people under the legal smoking age.
• Njoy product labeling clearly states it is intended for adult smokers only and encourages consumers to avoid smoking if they do not already.
• Njoy sells it's nicotine cartridges in child proof packaging in Europe and will soon bring similar packaging to the United States.

While pointing out that even big tobacco companies have trouble keeping their products out of the reach of children and pointing out most smokers report an average starting age of 13, Leadbeater wishes to take active steps to prevent similar underage problems with electronic cigarettes. "I have kids and I don’t want them smoking, either. We’re committed to becoming a positive solution for society by not contributing to the underage issues and by giving committed smokers of legal age a better alternative to conventional tobacco products.” said Leadbeater in a press release issued today.