Federal authorities seized practically $34 million price of unlawful e-cigarettes of their newest effort to crack down on unauthorized vaping merchandise coming into the U.S.
The Meals and Drug Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Safety found practically two million unlawful e-cigarette items throughout inspections in Chicago this February, officers introduced Thursday.
Virtually all of the merchandise got here from China and included manufacturers like Snoopy Smoke and Raz.
Thousands and thousands of unauthorized e-cigarettes from China stopped at US border.
U.S. Meals and Drug Administration
In a brand new transfer to fight unlawful imports, the FDA additionally despatched warning letters to 24 firms that convey tobacco merchandise into the nation.
“We are able to and can do extra to cease unlawful e-cigarettes from coming into the US,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary stated within the press launch. “These seizures maintain unauthorized merchandise away from our nation’s youth.”
Greater than 20 million e-cigarettes are bought every month within the U.S., in response to CDC Foundation data. Nonetheless, solely 34 tobacco and menthol-flavored e-cigarette merchandise are allowed to be bought within the U.S.
Thousands and thousands of unauthorized e-cigarettes from China stopped at US border.
U.S. Meals and Drug Administration
Officers stated many firms tried to sneak unlawful merchandise previous customs through the use of pretend labels and incorrect values on transport paperwork.
“We maintain discovering extra shipments of vaping merchandise which can be packaged and mislabeled to keep away from getting caught,” in response to Bret Koplow, who leads the FDA’s tobacco regulation heart. “However we’re getting higher at stopping these merchandise earlier than they attain U.S. shops.”
The FDA stated the seized merchandise could be destroyed. This operation was a part of an ongoing effort that had already stopped greater than $77 million price of unlawful e-cigarettes up to now yr by way of related raids in Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago.
The company has additionally issued greater than 750 warning letters to firms making or promoting unauthorized vaping merchandise and over 800 warnings to shops promoting them. It additionally filed monetary penalties in opposition to 87 producers and greater than 175 retailers.
