A Message From LAW Executive Director, David Tatman
 

The 2016 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature was a successful one for the Louisiana Association of Wholesalers.

The 1st Special Legislative Session of 2016 included a 12 cent per pack increase in cigarette taxes and an adjustment to the stamping discount for wholesalers, with an agreement that there would be no further increases on tobacco and no changes to the discount during the four year term.

The Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature provided an opportunity for our industry to address issues related to pre-stamping of cigarettes and regulatory enforcement issues. LAW was successful in effort to maintain stability in the industry and the tobacco distribution system.

The LAW 2016 Annual Convention will be held November 9-11, 2016. We have a great line up of speakers and networking events this year. Please see convention information and registration brochure below. We look forward to seeing you! 

FDA'S NEW E-CIGARETTE RULES,
NOW TAKING EFFECT, PROVE DIVISIVE

The Food and Drug Administration on Monday began implementing regulations on a number of tobacco products with the e-cigarette being the largest target. Health groups are applauding the changes, but vaping associations warn that the regulations could be an industry-killer. 

 

"Youth use e-cigarettes more than any other tobacco product on the market today, serving as an entry point to more traditional tobacco products and placing kids at risk to the harms and addiction of nicotine and other tobacco products," ALA President and CEO Harold Wimmer said in a May statement. "Ending the tobacco epidemic is more urgent than ever, and can only happen if the FDA acts aggressively and broadly to protect all Americans from all tobacco products."
 

Vaping Groups Pledge Fight
 

The American Vaping Association (AVA) and the Smoke-Free Alternatives Trade Association (SFATA), meanwhile, expressed alarm about the future of the industry under the new regulatory framework.
 

In comments posted on the group's website Friday, AVA President Greg Conley warned that the industry would likely shrink substantially as a result of the rules, which he argued will limit innovation by e-cigarette makers because of an "extremely burdensome and expensive" new-product approval process.
 

After the rules were approved in May, SFATA suggested that the "enormously cost-prohibitive regulatory process for manufacturers" could lead many vapers to go back to smoking.

"Since a growing body of scientific evidence confirm that vapor products are more than 95 percent less harmful than combustible cigarettes, it is essential that congressional action be taken so vapor products can remain on the market as highly effective replacement tools for smokers," SFATA said in its statement.
 

The groups pledged to fight the new rules in Congress and the courts.