Senate Urges FDA Enforcement on Unauthorized E-Cigarette Sales Review

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
May.08.2024
Senate Urges FDA Enforcement on Unauthorized E-Cigarette Sales Review
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin urges FDA to enforce court order on unauthorized e-cigarette sales, seeks officials to testify.

According to a report from Courthouse News on May 7th, Dick Durbin, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enforce court orders for the review of unauthorized e-cigarette products being sold in the United States.

 

Dobbs criticized the agency in a letter in January, accusing them of "handing out free passes to dozens of e-cigarette products that harm the health of our country's children." Now, the spokesperson is working to bring FDA officials before Congress.

 

On Tuesday, he requested in a letter that Brian King, the director of the Center for Tobacco Products at the agency, and Brian Boynton, the chief Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the Department of Justice, testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee. He specifically stated that the federal law enforcement agencies' task is to assist the FDA in enforcing violations of the Tobacco Control Act, including the marketing practices of e-cigarette manufacturers. That same day, Durbin took to Twitter to criticize the FDA for its lax enforcement of the e-cigarette market.

 

Despite the court setting a final deadline, the FDA continues to neglect its responsibility to mandate the removal of e-cigarette products from store shelves, as these products have failed to prove they are "appropriate for protecting public health.

 

In April, Dobin met with the two officials at a private meeting to discuss enforcement issues regarding unauthorized e-cigarettes. If the officials agree to testify publicly, the Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing in June.

 

The spokesperson for the FDA has not responded immediately to whether they will cooperate with this accusation.

 

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

PMI's IQOS Extends ZAMNA Electronic-Music Partnership to Spain as Vogue España Publishes Branded Content
PMI's IQOS Extends ZAMNA Electronic-Music Partnership to Spain as Vogue España Publishes Branded Content
Philip Morris International's IQOS has extended its partnership with electronic-music event brand ZAMNA to Spain, setting up a House of IQOS at ZAMNA Madrid. Vogue España and Time Out Madrid subsequently published branded content clearly labeled as collaborations with IQOS. PMI has also expanded its company-owned IQOS boutique network in Spain to seven cities this year. The company says IQOS's adjusted heated-tobacco market share in Europe reached 12.6% in the first quarter of 2026, with Spain among its stronger-performing European markets.
Sep.20
Pennsylvania Vape Directory Law Survives Court Challenge From Nova Distro and Others Amid Similar Rulings Across States
Pennsylvania Vape Directory Law Survives Court Challenge From Nova Distro and Others Amid Similar Rulings Across States
A U.S. federal court upheld Pennsylvania's vape directory law on October 14, rejecting a challenge brought by Nova Distro, 101 Distributors and companies operating Tobacco Hut retail stores. Court records show that vaping accounts for about 60% of Tobacco Hut's profits and that the chain held approximately $2 million in inventory potentially subject to seizure under the law as of June 2. Pennsylvania began enforcement on October 19. The ruling follows similar appellate decisions in other states, even as new research shows that unlisted vaping products continue to account for substantial sales in states with established directories.
Regulations
Oct.22
Russia's Vape Ban Decisions Reach 17 Regions With 39 More Considering Laws, Putting Over 3,000 St. Petersburg Retail Outlets in Focus
Russia's Vape Ban Decisions Reach 17 Regions With 39 More Considering Laws, Putting Over 3,000 St. Petersburg Retail Outlets in Focus
Russia's regional vape retail restrictions are expanding. State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said on November 7 that 17 regions had adopted decisions to ban vape sales, while another 39 were preparing or considering similar legislation. On November 12, lawmakers in Leningrad Oblast and the Republic of Karelia adopted bans scheduled to begin on March 1, 2027. A day earlier, St. Petersburg unanimously approved a five-year ban proposal in its first reading. The city has 615 specialist vape shops and more than 2,400 other retail outlets selling vaping products alongside other goods. Under Federal Law No. 186-FZ, enacted in June 2026, Russian regions may prohibit retail sales of electronic nicotine delivery systems and related liquids between March 2027 and March 2032. The legislation also restricts licensed suppliers from delivering covered products to retail premises in regions where bans apply.
Regulations
Nov.13
Latest UK ONS Data: Vaping Rate Edges Down to 9.9% in 2025, a Year After Overtaking Cigarette Smoking
Latest UK ONS Data: Vaping Rate Edges Down to 9.9% in 2025, a Year After Overtaking Cigarette Smoking
Vaping prevalence in Great Britain edged down to 9.9% in 2025 from 10.0% in 2024, with the number of adult users holding at approximately 5.4 million for a second consecutive year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). E-cigarette use had risen from 6.4% in 2020 to 10.0% in 2024, when it exceeded cigarette smoking prevalence for the first time. Cigarette smoking continued to decline to 8.7% in 2025, widening the gap to 1.2 percentage points. Daily vaping declined slightly, while usage among adults aged 25–34 increased despite falling rates in other age groups.
DATA
Oct.14
Iowa Sets November 16 Vape Directory Launch: Unlisted Products Face Sales Ban, Manufacturers $1,000 Daily Fines per Product
Iowa Sets November 16 Vape Directory Launch: Unlisted Products Face Sales Ban, Manufacturers $1,000 Daily Fines per Product
Iowa plans to publish its first vapor products directory on November 16, 2026, after which products not listed will be prohibited from sale or offer for sale in the state. The Department of Revenue expects to begin penalty enforcement on December 17, following an initial 21-business-day period focused on compliance education. Under House File 2677, retailers, distributors and wholesalers selling unlisted products face civil penalties of $300 per product per day, while manufacturers face $1,000 per product per day. Eligibility extends to FDA-authorized products and certain products meeting historical marketing and pending PMTA requirements. The directory program resumed after a federal appeals court vacated a preliminary injunction in July 2026.
Regulations
Nov.05
Special Report | From Oversupply to Supply Gaps: Global Tobacco Leaf Markets Diverge Ahead of 2027
Special Report | From Oversupply to Supply Gaps: Global Tobacco Leaf Markets Diverge Ahead of 2027
Global tobacco leaf markets diverged sharply in 2026, with India cutting authorised FCV production amid oversupply while Malawi faced a supply shortfall. U.S. demand improved in some leaf categories, but growers in Brazil, Colombia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe faced pressure from prices, buyer access, costs and weather. With nicotine consumption patterns also shifting, 2027 will test whether supply, demand and grower profitability can move back toward balance.
Oct.26