John Cornyn, Beth Van Duyne Introduce Bill to Crack Down on Illicit Chinese Tobacco Products

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R) and Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne (R) have introduced the Ensuring the Necessary Destruction (END) of Illicit Chinese Tobacco Act.

This legislation would grant the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new authority to destroy counterfeit, adulterated, and misbranded tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and vapes, entering illegally from China.

"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 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."

Van Duyne echoed the concern, emphasizing the public health and safety risks posed by illegal imports.

"These dangerous and counterfeit products have been flooding into our country from places like China," Van Duyne said. "The END Act will give federal agencies the tools they need to destroy these goods before they reach our shelves."

Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) joined as a Senate cosponsor, signaling bipartisan support for the bill.

According to the FDA, nearly all of the $34 million worth of illicit vaping products seized earlier this year originated in China. The 2024 National Youth Survey also reported that seven of the ten most commonly used e-vapor brands among youth are illegal.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Lung Association, and American Heart Association, and major retail associations endorse the legislation.

If passed, the END Act would empower federal agencies to curb the flow of counterfeit Chinese tobacco products and protect American youth from the growing vape crisis.