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SFATA California Prepares for State Fly-In 
 
Members from SFATA's California Chapters will converge on the state legislature in Sacramento this month to meet with their elected officials as they debate bills that would define vapor products as "tobacco" and damage the industry. 

SFATA members are invited to join us in Sacramento on Tuesday March 29th for the event. 

Your voice is critical in this debate! If you never contact your State Senator or State Representative, how will they know that you want them to protect vapor? 

Register today and join us for this important event!
SFATA's Expert Sessions  
 

On March 14, SFATA will host an information session on four of the most important topics vapor businesses need to be preparing for.

Diacetyl Threats & Litigation will be presented by David E. Kawala from Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP. Pax's Head of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Gal Cohen, will discuss Product Standards & Innovation. Challenges to Standardized E-Liquid Testing will be lead by Kim Hesse of Global Laboratory Services and SFATA's Board Secretary. Finally, Todd Harrison, Esq., will discuss Non-Nicotine Nutraceutical E-Liquid Regulation.

In addition to the many state issues the vapor industry is currently facing, these are vital concerns to the industry and we have has secured industry experts to provide critical information about extremely relevant issues facing the vapor supply chain. 

Register today!
SFATA-CALIFORNIA URGES CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE TO VOTE ‘NO’ ON ABX2-6
 
LOS ANGELES AND SACRAMENTO, March 2, 2016 -- The California chapters of the Smoke- Free Alternatives Trade Association (SFATA), the largest trade group representing the vapor industry, today announced their opposition to ABX2-6, a measure introduced by Assemblyman Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove) that attempts to define vapor products as “tobacco” and make related changes to existing law.

“This is a clear sign that money and not public health is at the core of these measures,” said Cynthia Cabrera, president of SFATA. “While we support sensible legislation to keep these products out of the hands of minors, lumping vapor with combustible cigarettes does not make sense because they are fundamentally different and opens the door for excessive taxation of vapor products that only will lead adults back to smoking cigarettes or force them to purchase products out of state or on the black market.”

Research shows that vapor products are less harmful alternatives to smoking with the potential to help reduce the public harm caused by smoking, which accounts for California's 37,000 deaths and $18 billion in economic and health care costs each year.

“The sad truth is that California received $1.52 billion in excise taxes and settlements in 2014, but only used 4.3 percent on prevention and cessation programs,” added Cabrera. SFATA’s opposition to ABX2-6 follows its pledge to oppose the “California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016,” a proposed ballot initiative that also attempts to classify vapor products as tobacco products, while extending new cigarette “sin” taxes to this growing category. In a letter to California’s Attorney General Kamala D. Harris, Cabrera called the ballot measure “fundamentally flawed,” citing its language as “misleading to voters” by falsely implying that the harmful health effects of tobacco are similar to those of vapor products.

“We miss a profound opportunity to reduce the public harm caused by smoking by equating vapor products with combustible tobacco,” Cabrera continued. “We will continue to work with legislators and public policy advocates to ensure that the distinction between the two is gravely evident to the 4 million California adults still smoking combustible cigarettes.” 
Clearing the Haze
Tackles Taxes 
 
SFATA's podcast is Clearing the Haze on the vapor industry and highlighting the networks we have made to better serve our members. 

This week, we speak with the nation's most recognized leader on taxes; Grover Norquist. For more than 30 years, Norquist has been at the front of the movement against excessive taxes. As the founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform, Norquist has taken a keen interest in legislation around the country that threatens to squash the vapor industry with sin-taxes that treat these products the same as combusted tobacco. 

Norquist made news last year when he said that the 2016 Presidential election could be decided by the millions of vapers. SFATA President Cynthia Cabrera and Grover talk about the election, taxes and much more in the most recent episode of Clearing the Haze.  
NATO Show Fast Approaching  
 

SFATA has always focused specifically on federal, state and local issues affecting the vapor product supply chain and will continue to do so.
The National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) was created fifteen years ago to fight to protect the right of retailers to sell legal tobacco products by channeling all of its resources into opposing local, state and federal legislation and responding to FDA tobacco regulations. On issues regarding e-cigarettes and vape products SFATA and NATO have shared the same mission.
NATO also holds and annual trade show, this year being held at the Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on April 19-21, 2016. To register to attend the NATO Show, visit NATOShow.com and click on the “Attendee” tab and then click “Get A Badge” to register on-line.

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