Key Takeaways

• Location: Indiana, United States
• Sponsor: Republican State Senator Ron Alting
• Core proposal: Vape shops would be allowed to sell only e-cigarette products that are “Made in the USA,” with all foreign-made products prohibited
• Focus: Particular attention on products originating from China
• Status: Unanimously passed the Senate Public Policy Committee on January 14; next stop is the Senate Appropriations Committee

According to WLFI, Republican Indiana State Senator Ron Alting is pushing legislation that would ban vape shops across the state from selling any foreign-made e-cigarette products, limiting legal sales exclusively to products manufactured in the United States.

The proposal, known as Senate Bill 185 (SB 185), has been framed as a consumer safety measure.

Alting said one of his primary concerns is products originating from China, citing the country’s dominant presence in the supply chain for vape shops.

He also referenced industry data indicating that China manufactures more than 90% of the world’s e-cigarette hardware.

According to Alting, some of these products may contain illegal or unregulated chemical substances, posing potential health risks. He argued that such products “should not be on the shelves of vape shops.” He further claimed that certain products are not even sold domestically in China, but are instead exported to the United States and distributed through retail channels.

SB 185 was unanimously approved by the Indiana Senate Public Policy Committee on January 14.

Under the legislative process, the bill will now move to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Alting added that, if enacted into law, the measure would give enforcement officials clearer tools to monitor and regulate vape retail stores throughout Indiana.

Image source: WLFI