NJOY Joins We Card Coalition

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- NJOY Electronic Cigarettes has become the first independent e-cigarette company to support the nationally recognized We Card program and join its Manufacturers Advisory Council.

The We Card program is widely accepted across the country as a premier sales training and education program working with retailers, trade associations, government agencies, community groups and others to prevent underage access to tobacco products and other age-restricted products.

Through this collaboration, We Card and NJOY will work together to boost awareness of age-restricted sales laws governing e-cigarettes, especially through We Card's award-winning training program and in-store materials.

"NJOY is proud to be the first independent electronic cigarette company to join We Card as part of our Gold Standard commitment to be the most responsible electronic cigarette company," said Craig Weiss, CEO of NJOY. "Recently, New York and other states and localities have passed laws prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. We support such laws. Now, through our collaboration with We Card, we can better help our retail supply chain with the training and tools they need to help ensure they are in compliance."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may regulate electronic cigarettes under the Tobacco Control Act, but to date, it has not done so. Pending the promulgation of such regulations, e-cigarettes are not subject to the provisions of the Tobacco Control Act. However, seven states and several localities have passed laws prohibiting minors' acc/ess to e-cigarettes.

"For NJOY, being responsible means setting a national standard even without federal regulations," said Vito Maurici, NJOY's senior vice president of sales and distribution. "Joining We Card helps demonstrate that we are serious about preventing underage access to our products -- everywhere."

We Card has incorporated FDA's recommendations for content, curriculum, extensive record keeping, official government health messages and more into its training program, according to Doug Anderson, president of the We Card Program. Training employees using We Card could mean lower FDA fines and penalties if infractions do occur," he noted.

"Retailers' desire for a more comprehensive program covering all age-restricted products is strong," Anderson added. "We are very pleased and excited to have NJOY support the mission of We Card to prevent the underage sale of restricted products."

NJOY e-cigarettes are currently available in nearly 30,000 retail stores nationwide, including more than half of the nation's top 20 convenience store chains. NJOY offers a variety of rechargeable and non-rechargeable electronic cigarette products made for adult smokers.