The United States Postal Service (USPS) is cracking down on distributers of unauthorized vapes using its mailing services for business shipments, according to a report by Reuters.
Reuters reported it reviewed letters showing the USPS blocked Demand Vape, a distributor based in New York, from making shipments.
“USPS revoked Demand Vape’s mailing exception last month after it received evidence the company shipped vapes lacking FDA authorization and that violated a local flavor ban, a letter from USPS to the company, dated July 15, showed,” Reuters reported.
The crackdown is expected to benefit big tobacco companies, the news agency said.
Demand Vape said it complied with the laws and is contesting being revoked, Reuters reported.
USPS gave the New York City’s Law Department a list of other vape firms to assess whether they could also be blocked for selling unauthorized vapes, Reuters reported.
USPS did not respond to a CSP request for comment by posting time.
In 2021, the USPS banned business-to-customer shipments of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). The change was required under the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act, a federal law that took effect in 2021.
In July, the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) and four associations affiliated with the convenience store and travel center industries called on the White House to crack down on the sale of illegal vape products from China in the marketplace.
In a July 18 letter, the organizations said the c-store industry is “systematically” losing sales to businesses that sell illicit products.
To date the FDA has authorized 39 e-cigarette products. These are the only e-cigarette products that currently may be legally marketed and sold in the United States.
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