The public comment period for a ban on postal shipping of vaping products in the United States closed on March 22, 2021.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) closed the public comment period on how the agency would enforce a shipping ban on electronic cigarettes and other vaping products.
On March 22, the Postal Service moved into the official review phase and will further outline how they will enforce the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act.
The act, known simply as the PACT Act, was ratified by the United States federal government when it was passed as a rider bill in a COVID-19 pandemic recovery package that was signed into law on December 27, 2020 — one of the last major middle fingers to the vaping industry from former President Donald Trump.
The PACT Act enters force 90 days after it was ratified. That means the deadline for public comments was this week as the law officially becomes code on March 27, 2021.
USPS, being the enforcing agency of the shipping ban, has the authority to promulgate the regulations of how they will enforce the PACT Act.
These rules will go into effect on April 26.
The wire service at Hemp Industry Daily reports that a spokesperson for the Postal Service confirmed that public comments on the new limits and restrictions on vape shipments will not be available to the public until April 26, when the final ruling is opened.
The vape shipping rules, in fact, apply to the manufacturers and retailers of vapor products that contain nicotine and THC. Companies of all types, including marijuana vape firms, will be severely harmed by the new restrictions on business.
Private shipping services like UPS and FedEx said that they will follow the standards of the USPS. DHL, another private shipping service, will require in-person signatures upon delivery. Firms that wish to operate down this route must implement age-verification measures for e-commerce sales and points of delivery policies, and must register with a specialized office under the Department of Justice and the US Attorney General.
