The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it has filed complaints against four makers of e-cigarette products, as the companies failed get authorization from the FDA to sell their products on the US market, reports CNN.
This is the first time that the agency has filed what it calls a “civil money penalty” (CMP) on e-cigarette makers who have not complied with the federal process.
From 2021 through 17 February, the FDA said it sent out 550 warning letters to large and small tobacco firms for manufacturing and selling products that are not authorized. A majority of the companies have removed their products from the market, the FDA said.
The four companies that did not comply with the FDA’s warning and are facing fines are BAM Group LLC, doing business as VapEscape; Great American Vapes LLC, doing business as Great American Vapes; The Vapor Corner Inc., doing business as Vapor Corner Inc., The Vapor Corner and Vapor Corner; and 13 Vapor Co. LLC, doing business as 13 Vapor. All four had previously been warned by the FDA that sales of their products were illegal. The companies apparently ignored the warning, and continue to make and sell e-cigarette liquids, the report said.
The FDA said that the maximum fine for a single violation of the law is USD 19,192 and that the agency is seeking the maximum fine allowed by law. Companies have the option to pay the fine, settle, request an extension of time or request a hearing. Businesses have 30 days to respond or they will have to pay the full fine.
If companies continue to violate the law, the FDA has the authority to take further action. The agency can seize products, issue injunctions to stop the sale of the products, and the companies can face criminal charges.