New Federal Task Force an Important Step Following Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s Calls for Greater Enforcement in Prosecuting Illegal E-Cigarettes

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the creation of a federal multi-agency task force to combat the illegal distribution and sale of unauthorized e-cigarettes. The announcement comes two months after Congressman Krishnamoorthi and Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (R-UT) led 10 other members of the Bipartisan Congressional Caucus to End the Youth Vaping Epidemic in a letter to the Justice Department urging greater enforcement in prosecuting illegal, flavored e-cigarettes not authorized by the FDA. To date, the FDA has only authorized 23 e-cigarette products, yet unauthorized e-cigarettes with flavors appealing to kids continue to remain on the market. 

“The newly-formed federal, multi-agency task force must utilize all enforcement tools at their disposal to stem the flow of illicit e-cigarettes, the majority of which come from the People’s Republic of China (PRC),” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “By promoting candy-like flavors and kid-friendly marketing, companies selling these illegal vapes are targeting our children. It’s time to make clear that our kids are not for sale.”

In April, Congressman Krishnamoorthi confronted the FDA Commissioner on the agency’s failures to address the youth vaping epidemic during a House Oversight and Accountability full committee hearing.