FDA Publishes New Import Restrictions on ELFBAR, Esco Bar and More

On May 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Import Alert 98-06 under the name “Detention Without Physical Examination (DWPE) of New Tobacco Products Without Required Marketing Authorization.” DWPE allows the agency to detain a product without physically examining it at the time of entry.

The companies subject to the Import Alert are from China, the United States, and South Korea. Most of the identified companies are manufacturers, shippers, and distributors of ELFBAR, EBDESIGN, Esco Bar, Eonsmoke, and ST!K brands.

The FDA has annotated that the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) has determined these companies may be importing/manufacturing/shipping a new tobacco product without marketing authorization. Tobacco products that lack premarket authorization requirements are considered adulterated.