Henrico Times

Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) have joined forces in sending a letter to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, urging action to prevent illegal vaping products from China from entering the United States. In the letter, the lawmakers highlighted the impact of these illegal products on youth vaping rates.

In the letter, the lawmakers emphasized the need for action to prevent the influx of illegal vaping products from China, which they state make up more than half of all vaping products sold in the United States. They pointed out that these products contribute significantly to underage vaping rates by circumventing national import bans.

"Illegal vaping products from the PRC now make up more than half of all vaping products sold in the United States and contribute significantly to underage vaping rates," the letter states.

The lawmakers also highlighted the challenges faced by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in intercepting these illegal products, as they are often mislabeled as other consumer goods such as flashlights, LED lights, or alarm clocks. They urged the FDA to keep the "red list" of illegal vaping products up to date to facilitate the seizure of these products.

The letter requests a response from the FDA commissioner by March 1, 2024, following a previous letter sent by the lawmakers and other members of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party on the harmful effects of vaping.

The full letter can be read on the Congressman's website.