Overview
- Illicit disposable and flavored vaping products tied to Chinese manufacturers are estimated to make up about 85–90% of U.S. e-cigarette sales, leaving regulated options a small share of the market.
- Federal enforcement has ramped up with multi‑million‑unit seizures reported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Justice, and agencies say operations targeting imports and domestic sellers are ongoing.
- Health officials and the DEA have warned that many illicit vapes contain toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde, lead and acrolein and that some illegal products and shops target young people and military personnel.
- Policy debate has intensified after the FDA authorized a limited set of flavored Glas Inc. pods in early May and the agency’s commissioner stepped down, prompting calls from HHS and lawmakers to speed approvals that favor U.S. manufacturing and inspection.
- The problem traces to China’s 2022 domestic flavor ban and a shift by manufacturers to export flavored disposables, and critics say long FDA premarket delays and gaps at ports let the illicit market grow while Congress provides enforcement funding.