The FDA has issued warning letters to several distributors of e-cigarettes for selling unauthorized products that appeal to minors. The brands cited in the letters, such as Elf Bar and Puff Max, are popular among US youth. The companies, ABS Distribution, EC Supply, and Easy Wholesale, have distributed products without marketing authorization, violating the law. The FDA has urged manufacturers to submit applications for existing e-cigarette products to remain on the market. E-cigarettes contain nicotine, which can harm adolescents’ brains. According to a recent CDC report, e-cigarette sales have surged, and over 2.5 million students have reported using them. KION546 reported

US FDA Issues Warning Letters to Distributors of Unauthorized E-Cigarette Products Targeting Minors

Originally Published: 27 JUL 23 18:37 ET

By Amanda Musa, CNN

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken action against several distributors of e-cigarettes for selling and distributing unauthorized products that appeal to minors. In a news release, the FDA stated that all the brands mentioned in the warning letters are among the most popular e-cigarettes among American youth. The companies named in the FDA’s action are ABS Distribution, EC Supply, and Easy Wholesale. These distributors have been found to have violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by distributing products without marketing authorization.

Dr. Brian King, the director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, emphasized the agency’s commitment to staying on top of the evolving e-cigarette landscape. He stated that the FDA uses various scientific assets to rapidly identify products with high appeal to young people. The FDA has already issued 15 civil money penalties against manufacturers since January due to the illegal sale of e-cigarettes. While existing e-cigarette products have been allowed to remain on the market, new tobacco products must receive marketing authorization from the FDA before they can be sold. So far, only 23 tobacco-flavored e-cigarette products or devices have received FDA authorization.

The distributors have been given 15 days to respond to the FDA with their plans to correct and prevent violations. Failure to comply may result in further actions such as civil money penalties, seizures, and injunctions. The FDA aims to monitor these violations closely to ensure their correction.

Concerns About E-Cigarettes and Youth Appeal

E-cigarettes contain high concentrations of nicotine, a highly addictive chemical that can have detrimental effects on the developing brains of adolescents. According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), monthly e-cigarette unit sales increased by 46.6% from January 2020 to December 2022, reaching 22.7 million units. The 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey revealed that over 2.5 million middle and high school students have reported using e-cigarettes.

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