This week, the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) sent a letter to all 213 members of the New York state legislature urging them to defer legislative action on Bill Number A.9482, which aims to prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco products in the state except for products with a tobacco, menthol, mint or wintergreen flavor, NATO reported. 

In the letter, NATO indicates that the current lawsuit filed by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Manufacturing and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Brands seeking to overturn the New York City flavored tobacco ban ordinance will have an impact on the outcome of the flavored tobacco ban bill now pending in the state legislature.

The New York Assembly Health Committee was scheduled to hold a hearing this week and A.9482 was on the committee’s agenda, but the hearing was cancelled.  NATO members in New York have been alerted to call their state legislators to oppose this bill and NATO will continue to monitor this bill closely.