The seizures were carried out by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, who estimated the total value of the shipments from China to be $719,453. It is believed all of the orders were heading to Texas. The FDA says it is part of an ongoing joint operation with its officers and agents who are, “looking to intercept counterfeit or other violative e-cigarettes, including certain flavoured e-cigarettes imported to the U.S.”
Port Director Timmy Lemaux said: “Many counterfeit, unapproved or unauthorised products are likely produced in unregulated facilities with unverified ingredients posing a serious health concern to consumers. It is especially alarming when these types of counterfeit and unauthorised products find their way into the hands of children as studies indicate.”
He didn’t explain how the seized products are more likely to end up in children’s hands.
“We will continue to take every opportunity to work with our partners at the FDA to intercept and seize products that threaten U.S. consumers,” he continued, not amplifying how the vape devices are now more of a threat than they used to be before the Deeming Regulations took effect.
The FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products’ Mitch Zeller has always been against the idea of using things like vape products to save smokers’ lives. He commented: “The FDA continues to prioritize enforcement against e-cigarette products, specifically those most appealing and accessible to youth. We are very concerned about how popular these products are with youth. This seizure makes clear to tobacco product manufacturers, retailers and importers that the FDA is keeping a close watch on the marketplace and will hold accountable those companies that violate tobacco laws and regulations.”
For the administrators serving time until they are replaced for rank ineptitude, they are waging a war on harm reduction due to a supposed “public health crisis of youth e-cigarette use in America”. Evidence and facts aren’t going to get in their way.
“Protecting American consumers from illicit and especially harmful tobacco products, such as counterfeit or flavoured e-cigarettes, is of utmost importance to the FDA,” said Judy McMeekin, the FDA’s Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs. “We will continue to investigate and remove from the marketplace products that pose a particular danger to the public health.”
In other news, 34.1 million American adults still smoke on a daily basis. Lemaux, Zeller, and McMeekin or the FDA don’t seem to care much about that.
News from: https://www.planetofthevapes.co.uk/news/vaping-news/2021-01-26_fda-seizures.html