The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned firms to stop marketing unauthorized products or risk enforcement, according to an agency press release.

The FDA has issued warning letters to five companies for the unauthorized marketing of 15 different e-cigarette products. The products in question are packaged to look like toys such as Nintendo Game Boys and walkie-talkies or food items like popsicles. Some of the products also used cartoon characters from popular TV shows like “The Simpsons” on their packaging which the FDA says is likely to attract purchases from youths. Furthermore, none of the manufacturers had submitted a premarket application for any of the unauthorized products, according to the press release. Products mentioned in the warning letters include those that look like glow sticks, Nintendo
“The designs of these products are an utterly flagrant attempt to target kids,” said Brian King, Ph.D., M.P.H., director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “It’s a hard sell to suggest that adults using e-cigarettes with the goal of quitting smoking need a cartoon character emblazoned across the front of the product in order to do so successfully.”
The FDA issued warning letters to: Wizman Limited doing business as Wizvapor, Shenzhen Fumot Technology Co., Ltd. doing business as R and M Vapes, Shenzhen Quawins Technology Co., Ltd., Ruthless Vapor and Moti Global.
According to the FDA press release, the warning letters notify the recipients that e-cigarettes without a marketing authorization order are adulterated and misbranded, and that selling or distributing these products to consumers in the US is prohibited under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act. If the companies in question fail to correct the violations further action can be taken by the FDA.
“The FDA is committed to keeping tobacco products out of the hands of our nation’s youth,” said Dr.King. “The agency will continue to hold companies accountable for illegally selling e-cigarettes, particularly those that shamelessly target youth.”