Lung Association: FDA, DOJ Action to Seek Injunctions Against Illegal E-Cigarette Companies is a Positive Step to Reduce Youth Vaping

Today, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it filed complaints for permanent injunctions in federal district courts against six e-cigarette manufacturers on behalf of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In response to this announcement, American Lung Association National President and CEO Harold Wimmer released the following statement:  

“The American Lung Association applauds this action from the DOJ and FDA and urges the Biden administration to continue their work to enforce the law. These companies were warned but continued to violate the law. 

“This is the first time FDA and DOJ have taken these steps and comes just a couple weeks after the release of the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey, which revealed that more than 2.55 million youth are regularly using e-cigarettes. The data also show that nearly 85% of youth who vape are using flavored products, including 26.6% using menthol and 29.4% using mint-flavored e-cigarettes, and 27.6% are vaping daily. Virtually all of these flavored products are on the market illegally. 

“There is an urgent need to prevent more kids from becoming addicted to these products and from new flavored products coming onto the marketplace. Over the past year, and most recently in our news release regarding the new youth vaping data, we have urged FDA to take action against manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors. 

“We thank the DOJ and FDA for taking action and urge the agencies to vigorously enforce the Tobacco Control Act and protect the public from illegal and dangerous tobacco products.”

The Lung Association has resources to prevent tobacco use and help youth quit, specifically designed for schools, parents and teens, including TalkAboutVaping, our Vape-Free Schools Initiative, Not On Tobacco, and more resources available online.