BOISE, ID – Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador has joined a coalition of state attorneys general in requesting the Trump Administration take action to restrict the flow of illegal Chinese-made e-cigarettes into the United States. The group is seeking renewed enforcement efforts against products they say are being marketed toward minors.
According to the joint statement, many of these e-cigarettes are sold with packaging and flavors designed to appeal to children, including video game-themed branding and sweet flavors. The coalition claims these products often bypass federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review, are mislabeled to evade detection, and contain unknown substances.
“These unregulated devices often bypass federal review, evade customs enforcement, and contain unknown substances,” Labrador stated. “Idaho is joining a coalition of states asking the Trump Administration to reestablish strong enforcement mechanisms to protect public health and ensure these unlawful products are kept out of the hands of American kids.”
The coalition is advocating for several measures, including:
- Prioritization of enforcement against illegal e-cigarette distribution by a federal multi-agency task force
- Authorization for Customs and Border Protection to seize illicit tobacco products
- Increased prosecution and penalties for violators
- Strengthened border enforcement related to e-cigarette imports
The effort was led by Iowa and includes attorneys general from 28 states and Guam. The letter criticizes the Biden Administration’s approach to enforcement, contrasting it with actions taken during the previous Trump Administration.
The coalition’s letter seeks federal action to target the manufacturers and distributors of illegal Chinese e-cigarettes and to prevent access to these products by U.S. youth.
For additional information, the Office of the Attorney General directed media inquiries to Damon Sidur at damon.sidur@ag.idaho.gov.