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Rep. Krishnamoorthi urges FDA crackdown on illegal e-cigarettes
He highlighted the growing concern over youth nicotine addiction driven by unauthorized flavored e-cigarettes.
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Malvika Choudhary - Thu, 10, Jul 2025
- 13:06 EDT
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Raja Krishnamoorthi / File Photo
Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take stronger action against the widespread availability of illegal e-cigarette products marketed to children.
As co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus to End Youth Vaping, Krishnamoorthi and Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (R-UT) highlighted the growing concern over youth nicotine addiction driven by unauthorized flavored e-cigarettes.
Also Read: Krishnamoorthi welcomes SCOTUS decision to uphold FDA vape ban
In a letter addressed to FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, the lawmakers highlighted that despite the FDA having authorized only 34 e-cigarette products for legal sale, more than 6,000 flavored variants—many designed to appeal to children with flavors like pink lemonade, cotton candy, and bubblegum—remain widely available both online and in retail outlets.
“These products come in a large variety of youth-appealing flavors… Some of the latest e-cigarette products now have built-in video games and smartphone-like features, allowing kids to play video games, send text messages, and use social media,” the lawmakers wrote.
The letter cited 2024 data showing that more than 1.6 million youth, including nearly 8 percent of high school students, used e-cigarettes. Among them, 42 percent reported frequent or daily use—signaling deepening addiction trends. The lawmakers warned that nicotine, a highly addictive substance, can cause long-term harm to adolescent brain development, including effects on attention, learning, impulse control, and mood.
Their appeal also addressed recent staffing reductions at the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, raising concerns that fewer personnel could hinder oversight and enforcement at a critical time when illegal e-cigarettes continue to flood U.S. markets.
The push was backed by public health organizations. Yolonda C. Richardson, president and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said, “We applaud Reps. Krishnamoorthi and Maloy and their colleagues for their leadership… We join them in calling on the FDA and other federal agencies to utilize all tools at their disposal to prevent youth tobacco use, including enforcement actions.”
Other signatories to the letter included Reps. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Mike Kennedy (R-UT), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Burgess Owens (R-UT), Blake Moore (R-UT), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL). The lawmakers urged the FDA to fully exercise its enforcement powers to halt the sale and marketing of unauthorized products, warning that failure to act could expose more young people to addiction and long-term health risks.
They acknowledged the FDA’s recent seizure of $34 million worth of illegal e-cigarettes in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and called for further aggressive measures to protect public health.
In February 2025, nearly 2 million unauthorized e-cigarette units—mostly traced to China—were intercepted in Chicago. This operation added to over $77 million worth of illegal vape products seized in 2024, including $18 million in Los Angeles and $7 million in Miami.
FDA Commissioner Makary stated that such seizures “keep unauthorized products out of the hands of our nation’s youth,” and confirmed that the agency had issued warning letters to 24 importers suspected of mislabeling shipments to evade inspection.
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