Local Dept. of Health removes vapes and e-cigarettes from retail shelves

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Department of Health has removed all vapes and e-cigarettes from retail store shelves, over the last two months.

Samoa News reached out to the Health Department as to the issue and was told that Ms Solaita, who is in charge of the DoH division that removed the products was in a meeting. The reporter left his email and phone numbers for her to contact when possible. To date, there has been no response, nor has the DoH released a public notice advising the public of the “BAN”.

The territory does not have a law banning the importation and sale of such products, and questions of ASDoH overstepping its authority has been a matter of concern in the community — specifically its ability to close an establishment citing health issues.

While local lawmakers considered a bill banning ‘flavored’ vapes and e-cigarettes due to concerns about ‘flavored’ nicotine attracting young customers, the law was not passed.

Notable, the Cook Islands Ministry of Health has nearly approved all tobacco retailers.

All those approved can sell tobacco from the first of August under the new Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act 2024.

The Act increases the legal age of sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 years.

It also bans the manufacture, importation and sale of imitation tobacco products, including vapes and e-cigarettes.