U.S. Government’s Seizure of Illegal E-Cigarettes Is Significant Step to Protect Kids
Statement of Yolonda C. Richardson, President and CEO, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
December 14, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids applauds today’s announcement by the FDA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that they have seized approximately 1.4 million units of unauthorized e-cigarette products, including brands such as Elf Bar, which is the most commonly used brand among youth e-cigarette users in the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey (2023 NYTS).
This is the strongest enforcement action the government has taken to clear the market of illegal flavored e-cigarette products that are addicting our kids and endangering their health. It represents the coordination needed across government agencies to prevent the importation of illegal e-cigarette products into the U.S. and stop bad actors from continually finding new ways to prey on our kids. We urge the FDA, CBP, the Department of Justice and other relevant agencies to continue to use every enforcement tool at their disposal to take these illegal products off the market.
The 2023 NYTS showed that youth e-cigarette use remains a serious public health problem in the United States, with 2.1 million kids still using e-cigarettes. Nearly 90 percent of these youth users report using flavored products. Every one of these flavored products is on the market illegally as the FDA has not authorized the sale of any flavored e-cigarettes.