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

Bremen Sees Active Illicit Trade in E-Cigarettes and Nicotine Pouches; Regulators Say ‘Nearly Every Inspection Finds Violations’
Bremen Sees Active Illicit Trade in E-Cigarettes and Nicotine Pouches; Regulators Say ‘Nearly Every Inspection Finds Violations’
Bremen’s state government warns of increasingly active illicit trade in e-cigarettes, snus, and nicotine pouches. Enforcement reports “violations in nearly every inspection,” with some disposable vapes exceeding Germany’s 2 ml e-liquid cap. Since 2024, authorities have recorded 54 violations in 255 checks, concentrated around the central station district and city center.
Oct.10 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Russian Lawmakers Propose Criminalizing E-Cigarette Manufacture and Distribution, Citing Health Risks
Russian Lawmakers Propose Criminalizing E-Cigarette Manufacture and Distribution, Citing Health Risks
Russian lawmakers propose criminalizing e-cigarette manufacturing, storage, sales, and use, citing drug crime model for penalties.
Oct.14 by 2FIRSTS.ai
UK Government Officially Confirms Vaping Products Duty and Stamps Scheme, Effective October 2026
UK Government Officially Confirms Vaping Products Duty and Stamps Scheme, Effective October 2026
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has officially confirmed that the UK will implement a Vaping Products Duty (VPD) and Vaping Duty Stamps (VDS) scheme from October 1, 2026. The duty will apply to all vaping liquids at a flat rate of £2.20 per 10ml. Businesses must register for approval starting April 1, 2026. The stamps scheme will take effect in October 2026 with a six-month grace period, after which, from April 2027, unstamped products will be prohibited from sale.
Oct.02 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Philip Morris International Fails to Invalidate British American Tobacco Unit’s Vape Patent
Philip Morris International Fails to Invalidate British American Tobacco Unit’s Vape Patent
The European Patent Office’s Board of Appeal upheld British American Tobacco’s Nicoventures Trading Ltd. vape patent, rejecting Philip Morris International’s objections. The board ruled that the patent’s use of predefined heater activation parameters not based on user puffs was novel and valid.
Nov.10
Portugal to Tax Nicotine Pouches from 2026 at €0.065 per Gram
Portugal to Tax Nicotine Pouches from 2026 at €0.065 per Gram
Portugal’s 2026 State Budget adds nicotine pouches to the IEC by inserting Article 104-D into the Excise Code’s tobacco chapter. A specific duty of €0.065/g applies from 2026, with rounding to whole grams. The Budget also defines pouches (natural nicotine, up to 12 mg, tobacco-free, oral mucosal absorption). Lusa projects €1.676B in tobacco excise for 2026; combined levies near €1.993B.
Oct.30 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Mexico moves to advance reforms regulating e-cigarettes and vapes
Mexico moves to advance reforms regulating e-cigarettes and vapes
Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies Health Committee is expected to vote next week on reforms to the General Health Law that would regulate the prohibition, distribution, and sale of electronic cigarettes, vapes, and certain toxic substances, including fentanyl. Lawmakers from Morena insist the legislation must avoid loopholes and resist pressure from the tobacco industry.
Nov.21 by 2FIRSTS.ai