Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi Launches Inquiry into Illegal Vape Imports from the People’s Republic of China
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, who also serves as Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus to End the Youth Vaping Epidemic, launched an inquiry into illegal vape imports from the People’s Republic of China to the United States. This inquiry is part of the Ranking Member’s larger campaign to end all forms of youth vaping.
Speaking at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago to announce the inquiry, Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi said, “the endless supply of fruity, bright vapes found in so many store fronts are illegal. That is shocking and unacceptable, and the FDA must immediately use their authority to pull all illegal products from the shelves. I know that youth vaping is a public health crisis, and the actions of companies addicting our kids with flavors and impossibly high levels of nicotine are endangering their health and their lives.”
An overwhelming percentage of the illegal vapes and e-cigarettes in the U.S. are made in the PRC. Most of these products are flavored, often in a manner that directly appeals to children below the age of 18.
Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi sent letters to five of the largest PRC-based companies that manufacture unauthorized vapes: Guangdong Qisitech Co. Ltd., Shenzhen HanQingDa Technology Co. Ltd., iMiracle Technology Co. Ltd., BFL Metal Production Ltd., and Dongguan Delin Technology Co. Ltd. In these letters, he asks for details regarding their sales to the United States, support from PRC investors and the PRC government, shipment practices, and targeting of children.
Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi sent six additional letters to U.S.-based wholesalers and distributers of illicit vapes, including Midwest Goods, Kanger Wholesale, Vape Wholesale USA, Demand Vape, World Vape USA, and Mi-Pod. In these letters, he asks for details regarding these U.S. companies’ compliance with FDA requirements, sale of products that target children, and importation of illicit products and devices from the PRC.
In the letters, the Ranking Member wrote, “In 2022, the PRC banned flavored e-cigarettes from being sold within China. However, the PRC did not similarly prohibit the export of these dangerous products to the U.S. or other jurisdictions. In fact, in 2023, “China’s vaping sector is estimated to be worth $28 billion, and the U.S. accounts for nearly 60% of the country’s vape exports.” But the fact that the PRC permits the export of flavored products which are banned for domestic use in China does not mean such exports are permitted under U.S. law.”
Read Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi’s letters below.
Ecto World LLC d/b/a Demand Vape
Dongguan Delin Technology Co. Ltd.
Lightfire Holdings LLC d/b/a Kanger Wholesale
Shenzhen HanQingDa Technology Co. Ltd.
World Wholesale Inc. d/b/a World Vape USA
Read more about Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi's efforts to end youth vaping in all its forms HERE.