May 19, 2023

(Alexandria, VA) –Consumer Action for a Strong Economy released the following statement today after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) added several illicit vape products to its red list. The FDA’s action allows federal, state, and local officials to stop these products from being imported to the United States and get them off the shelves.

“While it is encouraging to see the FDA finally waking up to the threat children and teens face from the millions of flavored, disposable e-cigarettes that are flooding into our country, today’s action is not nearly enough,” said Gerard Scimeca, Chairman of CASE. “China is fueling the fentanyl crisis in America by working with traffickers in Mexico to get tons of the lethal drug over the border and into our communities. Illicit vapes give these criminals another delivery system to target young Americans. The youth-enticing flavors and relentless social media campaign behind these products are as shameful as they are tragically effective. The FDA has taken a step in the right direction with this red alert, but it has to be backed by a serious enforcement effort that stops illicit, disposable vapes from entering the country and gets them off store shelves where they remain far too easily within reach.”