Three members of Congress are urging the Trump administration to step up efforts to crack down on illegal vape sales, accusing large numbers of unauthorized vapes smuggled into the U.S. market through fraudulent means of undermining public health and leading to an increase in vape use among youth, as lawmakers call for more enforcement measures.
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Key points:
- 1. Three members of the US Congress have sent a letter to relevant ministers urging the Trump administration to intensify efforts to crack down on illegal vape sales.
- 2. Illegal vape products, which account for more than half of vapes sold in the United States, are imported through fraudulent transshipment practices, undermining public health and leading to a significant increase in youth use.
- 3. Lawmakers believe that the existing task force is an important step, but more enforcement tools. Including the seizure of illicit products, is needed to effectively curb the distribution and sale of illegal vapes.
Three key U.S. congressmen send letter to Trump administration
According to Cspdailynews reported on March 24, three members of the US Congress urged the Trump administration to step up efforts to crack down on the sale of illegal electronic cigarettes.
U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson. Chairman of the Select Committee on China John Moolenaar, and member Raja Krishnamoti Krishnamoorthi sent a letter Thursday to Kristi Noem. Secretary of Homeland Security, Pam Bondi, the attorney general, and Sara Brenner, acting commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Urge the Trump administration to take action to curb the flood of unauthorized vapes into the U.S. market.
The letter states,
- “The massive smuggling of these illicit vape products – which account for more than half of all vapes sold in the United States – undermines public health priorities in the United States and has contributed to a significant increase in vape use among youth.”
The letter also mentions that these unapproved products are often imported through fraudulent transshipment methods in violation of U.S. trade laws.
In June 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice and the FDA created a federal multi-agency task force to combat the distribution and sale of illegal vapes. In their letter, the lawmakers called the task force an “important” step forward but said more needs to be done.
- “Now is the time to take further action and use all the law enforcement tools at our disposal.” “Impounding these products is also a critical step, but right now it’s too rare.”
