FDA Warns Retailers and Manufacturers Against Unauthorized E-Cig Sales

On September 14th, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued warning letters to 15 online retailers and three manufacturers (distributors), cautioning them to cease the sale or distribution of unauthorized e-cigarette products. Additionally, one case involved the illegal sale of products to underage purchasers by a retailer. The warning letters listed a range of popular and appealing e-cigarette products for young people, including disposable products sold under brands such as ELFBAR, EB Design, Lava, Cali, Bang, and Kangertech.

The FDA has stated that it has identified the key e-cigarette products that are appealing to young people through rapid monitoring and data-driven investigation methods. Retail sales data, internal data obtained from surveys targeting young people, and other data sources have assisted the agency in determining the growing popularity of these youth-attracting products. As a result, the FDA has prioritized investigating the entire supply chain, ranging from manufacturers to distributors to retailers.

Brian King, Director of the FDA Center for Tobacco Products, has stated, "Given the rapid development in the e-cigarette industry, we must have flexible monitoring tools to best keep pace with protecting public health." "They are an important component of our comprehensive monitoring toolbox, enabling us to proactively identify and quickly mitigate emerging threats, especially those impacting our nation's youth."