The major distributor of electronic cigarettes has agreed to stop sales in Oregon, according to Attorney General John Kroger.

Kroger declared that “Smoking Everywhere” Inc. did not received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approbation and didn’t provide evidences that would support the declaration that its electronic cigarettes are a safe and not harmful alternative to traditional tobacco products. He also expressed his concern that the company promoted these cigarettes toward young people.

Last year Oregon became the first state that went to court in order to prohibit the sale of the given devices that are designed to look like conventional cigarettes.

“Smoking Everywhere's” e-cigarettes have a battery-operated heating element and a renewable plastic cartridge that contains chemicals, including liquid nicotine. The heat vaporizes the liquid for inhalation.

In settling the suit, the Florida-based company recognized violating Oregon's Unlawful Trade Practices Act. Besides any longer selling its products here, the company agreed to pay more than $95,000 to the state Department of Justice. The president of the company Elico Taieb will have to pay $25,000 and will be prohibited to start any business in Oregon that involves tobacco products, nicotine or electronic cigarettes.

Ray Story, a “Smoking Everywhere” proprietor who takes legal proceedings against Taieb, didn’t endorse the settlement. “By day's end, he has made some senseless mistakes, and he still continues to do them,” Story said.

The Food and Drug Administration has disagreed with e-cigarette companies on the question of whether this product helps people stop smoking. In case it is promoted as a medical device then it needs the FDA approval.

The agency prohibited the import of E-cigarettes into the U.S. last year, but a federal judge declined the action in January. The U.S. Court of Appeals will examine the matter next month.

Story states that “Smoking Everywhere” is a cigarette enterprise and it has to act as such. That means that it doesn’t have the right to advertise its products on the radio or sell over the Internet, where there is no assurance that it will not be delivered to a minor. Story declared that he and Taieb have disagreed on that point.

Story declared that electronic cigarettes are less dangerous than traditional cigarettes and less importunate to nonsmokers. He harshly attacked Kroger for keeping the product away from Oregonians.

“The attorney general really doesn't know what he is talking about,” he stated. “A state can’t prohibit a product without banning all products within that same category.”

Last year the attorney general stopped retail chains selling e-cigarettes in Oregon and attacked another e-cigarette company, Sottera Inc. to leave the state.

“Smoking Everywhere” rejected the demand to limit its Oregon sales, that brought to the judicial trial filed almost a year ago in Salem.