Tobacco

FDA Seeks Civil Money Penalties Against Retailers Selling Unauthorized E-Cigarettes

Agency warns 16 online, 2 brick-and-mortar businesses
unauthorized e-cigarettes
Photograph: Shutterstock

The Food and Drug Administration is seeking civil money penalties (CMP) against two brick-and-mortar retailers and 16 online retailers for the sale of unauthorized e-cigarettes, the agency said on Tuesday. 

The FDA said it previously warned these retailers; however, follow-up inspections revealed the retailers did not correct the violations. Many recipients of warning letters correct the violative conduct, the agency said on Tuesday. 

Entities manufacturing, importing, selling or distributing e-cigarettes that lack the required premarket authorization risk enforcement actions, the FDA said.

To date, the FDA has filed civil money penalty complaints against 79 manufacturers and 175 retailers for distribution and/or sale of unauthorized tobacco products. 

The FDA has authorized 34 e-cigarette products and devices to date, and that number is going to “continue to increase,” the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) Director Brian King said in a session Sept. 13 at CSP’s Tobacco Plus Forum in Schaumburg, Illinois.

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