Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne (R-TX-24), Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI-6) introduced the Ensuring the Necessary Destruction of Illicit Chinese Tobacco (END) Act, to strengthen enforcement tools to block illicit tobacco imports and protect U.S. consumers from unsafe and counterfeit products.

“We have seen too many illegal vapes slipping through the enforcement cracks, posing health and safety risks to Americans,” said Congresswoman Van Duyne. “These dangerous and counterfeit products have been flooding into our country from places like China. The END Act will give federal agencies the tools that they need to destroy these counterfeit or misbranded goods before they reach our shelves.”

“The vaping epidemic that has plagued American youth is made all the more concerning by China’s outsized role in flooding U.S. markets with counterfeit tobacco products,” said Senator Cornyn. “By giving the FDA destruction authority over these imports, this legislation would turn off the spigot of illicit e-cigarettes and vapes flowing from China and address the public health crisis sweeping across our nation.” 

“Imported counterfeit tobacco products, mostly from China, are flooding our markets and threatening the health and safety of Americans. These knockoff vapes and e-cigarettes are illegal, dangerous, and laced with unknown chemicals. Every American who uses one is at risk of serious harm,” said Congresswoman Dingell. "This bill gives FDA the authority to seize and destroy these fake products before they ever reach our communities."

The Ensuring the Necessary Destruction of Illicit Chinese Tobacco (END) Act is supported by 7-Eleven, Altria, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the National Association of Convenience Stores, NATSO, Representing America’s Travel Centers and Truck Stops, and SIGMA: America’s Leading Fuel Marketers.

Summary:
The Ensuring the Necessary Destruction of Illicit Chinese Tobacco (END) Act authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to destroy adulterated, misbranded, or counterfeit tobacco products that are offered for import into the United States.

This legislation will update the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 381(a)) to explicitly include tobacco products, ensuring they are treated the same as counterfeit drugs or medical devices when intercepted by federal authorities.

Click HERE for bill text.

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