FDA Warns Five Online Retailers about Unauthorized E-Cigarette Sales

Regulations by 2FIRSTS Leona Zhu
Feb.29.2024
FDA Warns Five Online Retailers about Unauthorized E-Cigarette Sales
FDA warns five online retailers for selling unauthorized e-cigarette products, targeting popular brands favored by youth, violating federal law.

According to the official website of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on February 28th, the FDA announced that it has issued warning letters to five online retailers for selling unauthorized e-cigarette products. These letters point out that the disposable e-cigarette products being sold under well-known brands such as ELFBAR/EB Design/EB Create, Funky Republic, Lost Mary, Hyde, Breeze, and Cali Bars.

 

The FDA continues to issue warning letters based on ongoing surveillance of multiple monitoring systems to identify products that are popular or appealing to adolescents. According to findings from the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey, e-cigarettes have been the most commonly used tobacco product among middle and high school students for the past 10 years.

 

Among over 2.1 million reported cases of teenagers using e-cigarettes, more than half reported using ELFBAR products. Furthermore, based on the agency's review of retail sales data and survey results targeting teenagers, other brands have also been identified as popular or appealing products for teenagers.

 

Dr. Brian King, Director of the Center for Tobacco Products, stated: "Protecting our nation's youth from the harms of tobacco products is crucial to the public health mission of our center. We are committed to continuing to use data-driven approaches to identify and prevent the unauthorized sale of tobacco products, and take compliance and enforcement actions when necessary."

 

Retailers who received these warning letters for selling or distributing unauthorized e-cigarette products in the United States have violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The recipients of the warning letters have 15 working days to respond, detailing the corrective actions they will take and measures to prevent future violations. Failure to promptly correct the violations may result in the FDA taking further action, such as injunctions, seizures, and/or civil monetary penalties (CMPs).

 

These warning letters are the latest move by the FDA in its ongoing efforts to address the marketing and sale of unauthorized e-cigarettes that are appealing to young people. They supplement the 14 similar warning letters sent earlier this month to online retailers selling unauthorized e-cigarettes. As of February 26th, the FDA has issued warning letters to over 440 retailers and taken 100 civil monetary penalty actions against the sale of unauthorized e-cigarettes.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Tennessee to Impose 10% Tax on E-Cigarettes Starting July; Retailers Question Enforcement Clarity
Tennessee to Impose 10% Tax on E-Cigarettes Starting July; Retailers Question Enforcement Clarity
A new law in Tennessee aimed at curbing youth vaping took effect in July, imposing a 10% excise tax and requiring e-cigarette products to be registered with the state. However, industry insiders say enforcement has been chaotic and regulations unclear, leaving small and mid-sized retailers confused.
Jul.09 by 2FIRSTS.ai
UK Bans Disposable E-Cigarettes Starting in June, Rechargeable Devices Still Legal
UK Bans Disposable E-Cigarettes Starting in June, Rechargeable Devices Still Legal
From June, the UK bans disposable e-cigarettes, worth 15,000 pounds seized in Liverpool to combat underage sales.
Jul.01 by 2FIRSTS.ai
American Minneapolis Raises Minimum Price of E-Cigarettes to $25 and Bans New Tobacco Stores Near Schools
American Minneapolis Raises Minimum Price of E-Cigarettes to $25 and Bans New Tobacco Stores Near Schools
The Minneapolis City Council in Minnesota has passed two new tobacco control regulations: raising the minimum price of e-cigarettes to $25 and banning the establishment of new tobacco stores near schools, aiming to reduce youth smoking rates.
Jul.11 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Han Zhanwu Meets with BAT Executive Committee Members Murphy and McCrory
Han Zhanwu Meets with BAT Executive Committee Members Murphy and McCrory
Han Zhanwu, Vice Director of State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, met with members of British American Tobacco's management committee in Beijing on June 24.
Jul.04 by 2FIRSTS.ai
North Carolina Enforces Comprehensive E-Cigarette Regulations: Unlisted Products Banned Starting July
North Carolina Enforces Comprehensive E-Cigarette Regulations: Unlisted Products Banned Starting July
Starting July 1, 2025, North Carolina will ban the sale of e-cigarettes and related products not listed in the state’s official product directory. Violations may lead to fines up to $10,000 per product, license suspension, and product destruction.
Jul.01 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Altria CFO, EVP to Retire in July; Company Outlines 2025 Plan Pending Shareholder Approval
Altria CFO, EVP to Retire in July; Company Outlines 2025 Plan Pending Shareholder Approval
Altria Group has announced that Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Steven D'Ambrosia will retire on July 31, 2025, and will be succeeded by Katie F. Patterson, currently Senior Director of External Reporting, effective August 1. In Q1 2025, the company reported a 5.7% YoY decline in revenue and a 49.4% drop in net income.
May.20 by 2FIRSTS.ai