Juul curbs sales of some e-cigarette flavours, but not in Canada

Vaping giant JuulLabs Inc. is stopping its sales of somee-cigarette flavours in U.S. stores to deter use by kids and teens, but isnot doing the same in Canada.

The company announced the move on Tuesday, in advance of an expected crackdown by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on underage sales of flavoured e-cigarettes.

In a statement posted on the company website, CEO Kevin Burns said it had "stopped accepting retail orders for our Mango, Fruit, Creme and Cucumber JUULpods to the over 90,000 retail stores that sell our product."

The flavours would continue to be available directly from Juul online, the statement said, where "age-verification measures" are in place.

But the company is not taking the same actions in Canadian stores, where mango, fruit and cucumber flavours continue to be available, said spokesperson Victoria Davis in an email to CBCNews. The "creme" flavour has never been available in this country.

"All flavours are compliant with Canadian regulations," Davis said, noting that the company had "chosen to voluntarily limit" them in the U.S. "as part of the discussions" between Juuland the FDA.

FDA commissioner ScottGottliebresponded toJuul'sannouncement on Twitter.

"We're deeply concerned about the epidemic of youth use of e-cigs. Voluntary action is no substitute for regulatory steps #FDA will soon take," his tweetsaid.

"But we want to recognize actions by JUUL today and urge all manufacturers to immediately implement steps to start reversing these trends."

Last week, an FDA official said the agency plans to bar stores and gas stations from selling most flavoured e-cigarettes, but not menthol. It also plans to require online retailers to verify ages, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

When asked byCBCNews, Health Canada did not say whether it was concerned that theJuulflavourspulled from American storeshelveswould continue to be sold in Canada.

Health Canada spokesperson Anna Maddisonsaidin an email that Canadian regulationsrestrict"the promotion of vaping products with candy and dessert flavours, such ascrmebrleand blueberry cake."

"Canada has established a strong regulatory framework for vaping products, with a focus on preventing uptake by youth and non-smokers," Maddisonsaid.

"In addition to enforcing regulations that prohibitthe sale of vaping products to people under age 18," she said, "the Government of Canada will soon be introducing a new public education campaign to increase awareness about the harms and risks associated with vaping product use among youth aged 13 to 18.

"The campaign will also equip parents and other trusted adults with tools and resources to support conversations and discussions about the health risks of vaping products for this age group."

Many health experts agree that for adults, inhaling nicotine through vaping is safer than smoking traditional cigarettes, but the long-term effects aren't fully known. One of the biggest public health concerns has been that teens would find vapingappealing, even though they were previously non-smokers.

Juulcontinuesto saythat its products aremeant as an alternative for adults who already smoke.

"JUUL is a switching product for adult smokers and is not intended for non-smokers or minors," Davis said in her email to CBCNews.

"Those who do not currently use nicotine products should not start using JUUL. Our mission remains to positively influence the lives of adult[s] five million in Canada by offering them a less-harmful alternative to combustible cigarettes."

With files from The Associated Press and CBC's Kelly Crowe