A bipartisan US legislative effort is poised to give federal agencies sweeping powers to seize and destroy counterfeit and dangerous vaping devices imported from China, a response to the flood of illicit e-cigarettes that regulators say are fuelling nicotine addiction among American teens, according to a report by The Epoch Times.
A two-pronged assault on illegal imports
In Washington this week, John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) introduced the Ensuring the Necessary Destruction (END) of Illicit Chinese Tobacco Act, which would amend the Food and Drug Administration’s underlying statute to authorise seizure and destruction of counterfeit, adulterated or misbranded tobacco products entering the US, including e-cigarettes and vape cartridges.
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"The vaping epidemic harming American youth is being worsened by China's massive role in flooding US markets with illegal tobacco products," Cornyn claimed in a statement.
Meanwhile, Van Duyne added that the bill will give federal agencies tools to destroy these dangerous products before they reach American shelves.
The Bill enjoys bipartisan backing, with Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joining in the Senate, and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) in the House.
The scale of the threat and enforcement push
Federal agencies say the pipeline of illegal vaping products is massive and growing. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the FDA have seized millions of unauthorised devices, many traced to China. For example, one operation in Chicago alone seized shipments valued at US $86.5 million.
Regulators warn these unapproved vapes often land in convenience stores and shops near schools, marketed via candy- or fruit-flavours, and can contain heavy metals, undeclared nicotine levels and unknown chemical additives.
Industry observers estimate that a large share of the US youth-vaping market is comprised of unauthorised products.
Supporters of the END Act say it would enable the FDA to act more quickly, turning off the “spigot” of illicit imports rather than simply chasing them after they’ve entered domestic channels.
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With the bill advancing, US retailers, importers and state regulators will need to brace for stricter controls. This may include tighter scrutiny at ports, more aggressive destruction of intercepted goods, and closer enforcement for sellers found offering un-authorised devices to youths.
The legislation could mark a significant escalation in the US government’s response to the youth nicotine challenge and the broader public-health risks posed by illicit vaping devices.
