Obama administration bans e-cigarettes on planes

E-cigarettes have been banned on all commercial flights in the United States.

President Obama's administration, via a Department of Transportation final rule, has effectively banned electronic cigarettes from all commercial flights.

Anthony Foxx, the Transportation secretary, said the new policy applies to all flights – domestic and international ones touching down on American grounds.

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"This final rule is important because it protects airline passengers from unwanted exposure to aerosol fumes that occur when electronic cigarettes are used onboard airplanes," he said, in a written statement reported by the Hill. "The department took a practical approach to eliminate any confusion between tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes by applying the same restrictions to both."

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Smoking on flights has been banned for some time, but federal officials said the prohibition was loosely defined and that they felt the need to specify e-cigarettes.

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The new rule mentions all vape products, even those devices that have been designed to look like pens.

The policy takes effect in 30 days.

Studies have been contradictory about the health impacts of smoking vapor products, but federal transportation authorities said they don't want to take any chances.