U.S. Congress Urges Trump Administration to Crack Down on Illegal E-Cigarette Sales

Key points:

• Three American congressmen have written to the relevant ministers, urging the Trump administration to step up efforts to crack down on illegal e-cigarette sales.
• The letter pointed out that illegal e-cigarette products make up more than half of e-cigarette sales in the United States, imported through deceptive shipping methods, which undermines public health and significantly increases the number of young people using them.
• Lawmakers believe that the existing task force is an important step, but more enforcement measures, including confiscating illegal products, are needed to effectively curb the distribution and sale of illegal e-cigarettes.

According to a report from CSP Daily News on March 24th, three American congressmen are urging the Trump administration to increase efforts to crack down on the illegal sale of e-cigarettes.

U.S. Reps. Dusty Johnson, Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar, and member Raja Krishnamoorthi sent a letter on Thursday (20th) to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and acting Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration Sarah Brenner, urging the Trump administration to take action to curb the influx of unauthorized e-cigarettes into the U.S. market.

The letter stated that，

“The large-scale smuggling of these illicit vaping products —accounting for more than half of all vapes sold in the United States—undermines American public health priorities and contributes to a significant increase in youth vaping."

The letter also mentioned that these unauthorized products are usually imported through deceptive means, violating US trade laws.

In June 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and FDA established a federal multi-agency task force to combat the illegal distribution and sale of e-cigarettes. The congressmen described the task force in a letter as an "important" step forward, but said more measures are needed.

“It is time to go even further and utilize all enforcement tools at our disposal. Seizing these products is also an essential step, which currently occurs far too infrequently.”