WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a series of warning letters to 80 brick-and-mortar retailers across 15 states for selling unauthorized e-cigarette products popular among youth, including Elf Bar and Lost Mary. The FDA also filed complaints for civil money penalties against eight retailers who ignored previous warnings.
These actions are part of the FDA’s ongoing efforts to monitor and regulate the sale of e-cigarettes appealing to minors. The 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey revealed that over half of youth e-cigarette users reported using Elf Bar. Lost Mary, another brand manufactured by the same company, also showed high popularity among youth.
The FDA typically issues warning letters when an initial investigation or inspection uncovers violations. Retailers receiving these letters have 15 working days to respond with corrective actions. Failure to comply can lead to additional measures, including civil money penalties. The eight retailers now facing penalties had previously been warned but failed to rectify their violations. The FDA is seeking $20,678 from each of these retailers.
This crackdown is the latest in a series of actions by the FDA to curb the sale of unauthorized e-cigarettes. Over the past year, the agency has conducted numerous inspections, resulting in over 690 warning letters and more than 140 civil money penalties to retailers.
To date, the FDA has authorized only 34 e-cigarette products and devices for legal sale in the United States. These are the only e-cigarette products that may be lawfully marketed and sold.
Jim Jones, Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, emphasized the importance of these actions: “Reducing youth access to unauthorized e-cigarettes is a critical step in protecting public health. We will continue our efforts to monitor and regulate this market.”
The FDA’s diligent surveillance aims to ensure that e-cigarette products do not undermine efforts to reduce youth tobacco use. The agency will persist in its regulatory endeavors to uphold public health standards and safeguard young consumers.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.