The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the issuance of complaints for civil money penalties (CMPs) against 20 brick-and-mortar retailers and two online retailers for the sale of unauthorized e-cigarettes.
FDA previously issued warning letters to these retailers for their sale of unauthorized tobacco products, however, the agency stated that follow-up inspections revealed that the retailers had failed to correct the violations.
The agency is now seeking a CMP of approximately $20,000 from each retailer.
According to the FDA, the CMP fee sought from each retailer is consistent with similar CMPs sought against retailers for the sale of unauthorized Elf Bar products over the last few months (including September, November and December of 2023 and earlier this year).
As of April 2024, FDA has issued more than 550 warning letters and 108 CMPs to retailers, including brick-and-mortar and online retailers, for selling unauthorized tobacco products. In addition to actions involving retailers, FDA has issued more than 670 warning letters to manufacturers, importers and distributors for illegally selling and/or distributing unauthorized new tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
“We have asked FDA numerous times for complete information about what can—and cannot—be sold in stores and they have declined to provide it,” Jeff Lenard, NACS vice president of strategic initiatives, told the New York Times. “It is long past time for FDA to provide that clarity and aggressively enforce the law.”
Full story at FDA Seeks $20,000 From 22 Retailers for Selling Unauthorized E-Cigs | NACS (convenience.org)
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