Six e-cigarette brands could be pulled from shelves in the US amid the Biden administration’s crackdown on the devices. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in conjunction with the Department of Justice filed suit against six e-cigarette companies — E-Cig Crib in Minnesota, Soul Vapor LLC in West Virginia, Super Vape’z LLC in Washington, Vapor Craft LLC in Georgia, Lucky’s Vape & Smoke Shop in Kansas, and Butt Out in Arizona.
The agencies behind the suits argued that all of the shops ignored previous warnings for failing to submit required applications to sell their products on the US market.
Under current rules vape manufacturers have to complete stringent pre-market applications to legally sell in the US.
These are in part to assure that the companies are not claiming to make a device that is a safe smoking alternative.
‘We will not stand by as manufacturers repeatedly break the law, especially after being afforded multiple opportunities to comply,’ said Dr Brian King, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products.
The requested injunctions, if granted, would compel the companies to cease manufacturing, selling, and distributing their products permanently.
The Biden administration is cracking down on six different e-cigarette makers for illegally marketing their products despite numerous warnings from federal regulators.
The government’s request for injunction against the six companies mark the latest move by the federal government to make a dent in e-cigarette use, which has exploded in recent years among youth.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VAPING
What are e-cigarettes?
E-cigarettes are devices that allow you to inhale nicotine in a vapor rather than smoke.
They do not burn tobacco or produce tar or carbon monoxide — two of the most harmful parts of tobacco smoke.
The devices work by heating liquid that contains nicotine and flavorings.
They can come as vape pens — which are shaped like a pen or small tube with a tank to store e-liquid and batteries — or pod systems that are rechargeable and often shaped like USB sticks.
Are they dangerous?
E-cigarettes are not risk-free but are believed to cause less harm than smoking.
However, its liquid and vapor contain harmful chemicals that are also found in traditional cigarettes, but it much lower levels.
These chemicals have been linked to lung inflammation, chronic coughs, shortness of breath and lung disease.
Some chronic users have developed obstructions in their lung pathways that cause them to suffer ‘asthma-like’ symptoms.
There have also been cases of e-cigarettes exploding or catching fire.
What has the FDA done to curb vape use?
The FDA has banned the sale of flavored nicotine products in the US unless a company has received their expressed approval.
All products sold by e-cigarette giant Juul were ordered to be pulled from the market in June under these new rules
It found that there was not enough evidence to confirm its products did not harm public health.
However, the FDA then paused its decision in July while it carries out an additional review on the company’s products.
Other popular brands, like Puff Bar, have received warnings from regulators about the sale of flavored devices as well.
The major players such as Juul and Puff Bar are not implicated in the administration’s request for permanent injunctions – but have previous drawn FDA warnings.
The popular devices faulted for hooking teenagers thanks to slick marketing remain on store shelves, though fruit and mint flavors that appeal to children are banned.
Tuesday’s move marks the administration’s latest effort to curtail sales and distribution of risky nicotine vapes.
It may not make a dent in the staggering number of teens who have become dependent on the electronic devices, though.
‘These cases are an important step in stopping the illegal sale of unauthorized electronic nicotine delivery system products,’ said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
Mr Boynton added, ‘The Department of Justice will continue to work closely with FDA to stop the distribution of illegal, unauthorized tobacco products.’
At least 2.5million US children were hooked on e-cigarettes in 2022, a jump of 500,000, or of 24 per cent, from 2021, according to federal tracking.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported earlier this month that high-strength disposable devices such as Elf bars were the most common type of device used (55 per cent).
Overall 14 per cent of high schoolers and three per cent of middle schoolers were estimated to be using the devices regularly.
The CDC’s findings represent the first year-on-year increase in e-cigarette use among US youth since 2019. Just over two million reported use in 2021.
The vast majority of children — 85 per cent — had used flavored e-cigarettes that federal regulators have cracked down on in recent years amid concerns they are purposefully marketing themselves to children.
The FDA has historically been charged with letting bad actors in the vaping industry proceed with business as usual without regulatory oversight.
Under the former Trump administration, the FDA began cracking down on sales of flavored nicotine e-liquids made by major companies like Juul.
Former FDA Commissioner Dr Scott Gottlieb focused much of his tenure at the Trump administration on reducing the rates of teen e-cig use.
Under Dr Gottlieb, the FDA set up new barriers to sales of flavored e-liquids and cigarettes to teens, took flavors appealing to kids off shelves, and tightened regulations of vaping company marketing tactics.
The agency has only had jurisdiction over the vaping market since 2016, having expanded its oversight of combustible tobacco to include electronic nicotine delivery systems, including Juul products.
