Pressure from federal health officials is building on e-cigarette makers.
One of the largest producers, Juul Labs, plans to open a $125 million plant in Lexington County.
In view of what financial pressure may do to Juul’s profits, the Chronicle asked county officials:
• What promises in creating new jobs, fee in lieu of taxes revenue and other benefits to the county did Juul offer in exchange for the incentives County Council approved?
• What happens if federal pressure and public opinion hurt Juul’s sales and bottom line and it is unable to come through with their side of the agreement?
• Worst case, what happens if Juul is forced to abandon its plans to open in Lexington County?
County spokesman Harrison Cahill said the county “has no further comments to make regarding these projects. Any questions regarding plant operations and timelines can be directed to Juul and Flex officials.”
The US Food and Drug Administration called the use of e-cigarettes “a burgeoning epidemic among teens” and plans a crackdown on the sale of Juul and other flavored e-cigarette devices to minors.
More than 1,200 warning letters and fines have been sent to retailers and 5 major e-cigarette manufacturers who illegally sold Juul devices looking like computer flash drives and other e-cigarette products to minors.
The companies have 60 days to come up with plans to stop those sales or the FDA may consider a ban on the sale of all flavored e-cigarette products.
FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. said, “Protecting our nation’s youth from the dangers of tobacco products is among the most important responsibilities of the US Food and Drug Administration – and it’s an obligation I take personally.
“We recognize that if the FDA is to end the tragic cycle of successive generations of nicotine and tobacco addiction, we must take every opportunity to disrupt that.”
The FDA has cited 40 retailers for violations in youth sales of Juul e-cigarettes.
It plans a new blitz of retailers targeting youth sales and to stop online sales of Juul to minors.
Juul has been publishing full page ads in metropolitan newspapers about its own efforts to stop sales to minors and halting supplies of e-cigarettes to those who sell to young people.