Multi-agency task force collaborates to address illegal e-cigarettes

After multiple years of concern surrounding e-cigarettes and flavored cigarettes, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have banded together to create a federal multi-agency task force to combat the illegal distribution and sale of e-cigarettes.

“Unauthorized e-cigarettes and vaping products continue to jeopardize the health of Americans — particularly children and adolescents — across the country,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer in the FDA press release. “This interagency Task Force is dedicated to protecting Americans by combatting the unlawful sale and distribution of these products. And the establishment of this Task Force makes clear that vigorous enforcement of the tobacco laws is a government-wide priority.” 

The partnership will include multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the US Marshals Service (USMS), the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

“Enforcement against illegal e-cigarettes is a multi-pronged issue that necessitates a multi-pronged response,” said Brian King, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “This ‘All Government’ approach — including the creation of this new Task Force — will bring the collective resources and experience of the federal government to bear on this pressing public health issue.”  

In 2022, the FDA proposed a total ban on flavored cigarettes and cigars to combat addiction among young people and the potential health impacts of their consumption.

While that ban did not pan out, there have been multiple efforts by the agency to minimize the impact of e-cigarettes on younger populations. For example, in August 2023, the FDA issued 15 warning letters to online retailers selling illegal and unauthorized e-cigarette distribution. The FDA has issued over 1,000 warning letters to manufacturers selling unauthorized tobacco products.

This task force will support efforts to curb tobacco use among young individuals.

According to the press release, in 2023, 2.1 million young people across the US reported using e-cigarettes. While rates have declined since previous surveys in 2019, the current prevalence of e-cigarette use is still a cause for concern, as tobacco use can impact brain development.