US Justice Department Cracks Down on Unauthorized E-cigarettes

Sep.16.2022
US Justice Department Cracks Down on Unauthorized E-cigarettes
The US Department of Justice is seeking court orders to destroy unauthorized e-cigarette products. FDA involvement has escalated.

According to an article by Alex Norcia in Filter, the U.S. Department of Justice is seeking court orders, threatening litigation, and demanding the destruction of unauthorized e-cigarette products. These actions are particularly noteworthy given that Brian King, director of the Center for Tobacco Products, recently declined to disclose to Politico whether his agency is willing to remove unauthorized e-cigarette products from the market.


Filter has confirmed that at least two open-system electronic cigarette companies have violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by failing to submit premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) and continuing to sell their products. This comes after the US Food and Drug Administration notified the Department of Justice before September 1st.


We plan to seek a court order permanently prohibiting...among other things, directly or indirectly manufacturing, distributing, selling, and/or providing any new tobacco product at any of your facilities or from any of your facilities unless and until such product has obtained marketing authorization from the FDA," states a letter signed by DOJ Senior Litigation Counsel Christina Parascandola, which was obtained by Filter.


Two companies known to have received letters have been ordered to actually destroy their own products under FDA supervision.


An industry insider told Filter that the letter was a "clear escalation" - as far as he knows, this is the first time the FDA has gone beyond a warning and explicitly threatened to sue for the sale of unauthorized nicotine electronic cigarettes.


Amanda Wheeler, a e-cigarette shop owner and president of an American vapor manufacturer in Arizona, expressed her frustration to Filter, stating that the FDA is now seeking the involvement of the Department of Justice in its misguided war against electronic cigarettes. Wheeler pointed out that this is affecting small businesses that are working tirelessly to help ordinary Americans quit smoking and are now facing shocking threats from federal law enforcement officials.


Declaration:


This article is compiled from third-party information and is intended for industry communication and learning purposes only.


The views expressed in this article do not represent those of 2FIRSTS, and 2FIRSTS cannot confirm the truthfulness or accuracy of the article's content. The compilation of this article is only intended for industry communication and research.


Due to limitations in the translator's ability, there may be variations in the expression of the article from the original text. Please refer to the original article for accuracy.


2FIRSTS maintains complete alignment with the Chinese government on any domestic, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, or foreign-related statements or positions.


The copyright for compiled information belongs to the original media and author. If there is any infringement, please contact us to have the content removed.


This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

Fifth Circuit Upholds FDA’s 2021 PMTA Rule, Citing Statutory Health-Study Requirements
Fifth Circuit Upholds FDA’s 2021 PMTA Rule, Citing Statutory Health-Study Requirements
A Fifth Circuit panel upheld the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s 2021 final rule requiring companies seeking premarket authorization for new tobacco products to include information on health-risk investigations. In a published opinion, the court found FDA satisfied the Regulatory Flexibility Act’s procedural requirements and reasonably relied on the economic analysis from the 2016 “deeming rule” as a factual basis to certify limited impact on small businesses.
Feb.27 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Philip Morris Korea Launches New IQOS ILUMA i “Electric Purple” Color Edition
Philip Morris Korea Launches New IQOS ILUMA i “Electric Purple” Color Edition
Philip Morris Korea said it has launched a new color edition of its heated tobacco device brand IQOS, called “IQOS ILUMA i Electric Purple.” The new color has been added to the IQOS ILUMA i series and applies to the Prime, standard, and One variants. The product is being sold through the IQOS website and nine IQOS directly operated stores across South Korea.
Mar.12 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Malaysia’s Selangor health authorities fine company US$5,000 over toy-like vape devices
Malaysia’s Selangor health authorities fine company US$5,000 over toy-like vape devices
Selangor’s health department said a company was fined RM20,000(US$5,000) for supplying vape devices designed to resemble toys. Officers raided the firm’s premises near Taman Kosas in Ampang on Dec 19, 2025 after discovering it was importing and distributing toy-shaped vape devices.
Mar.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Philip Morris and BAT’s Nicoventures Win EPO Appeal to Revoke VMR Vape Patent
Philip Morris and BAT’s Nicoventures Win EPO Appeal to Revoke VMR Vape Patent
The EPO Technical Board of Appeal 3.2.02 (T 1319/24) revoked VMR Products LLC’s EP3613453 “VAPORIZER” patent after finding that a 2012 YouTube video of the Innokin iTaste VV (D3) disclosed the claimed electrical contact arrangement. Opponents Nicoventures Trading Ltd (BAT subsidiary) and Philip Morris Products S.A. prevailed.
BATPMI
Feb.17
Peru Parliament Considers Imposing up to 100% Tax on E-Cigarettes
Peru Parliament Considers Imposing up to 100% Tax on E-Cigarettes
Peru Parliament discusses bill to impose up to 100% tax on e-cigarettes, citing public health concerns. Youth usage at 15.9%.
Mar.20 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Product | Labeled “Built in the USA” + 33mL Total E-Liquid, iJOY XP100K E-Cigarette Launched in the U.S.
Product | Labeled “Built in the USA” + 33mL Total E-Liquid, iJOY XP100K E-Cigarette Launched in the U.S.
iJOY Launches New IJOY XP100K E-Cigarette on Official Website. The product adopts a combined structure of “pod + power bank + refill e-liquid bottle,” comes pre-filled with 18mL of e-liquid and includes 15mL of refill liquid. It is officially claimed to deliver up to approximately 100,000 puffs, and its packaging bears the wording “BUILT IN THE USA.” It has already gone on sale through some online channels in the United States, with the kit priced at US$19.99.
Apr.08 by 2FIRSTS.ai