Lawmakers passed a bill aimed at preventing illegal tobacco and vaping products from entering the U.S. market.
In November, three legislators foot Ensuring the Necessary Destruction of Illicit Chinese Tobacco Act.
The bill aims to close a loophole that would require U.S. Customs to store or release illicit imported tobacco products if there is a domestic address, rather than destroying them. This has been identified as an implementation gap, especially with the influx of illegal e-cigarettes.
In a press releaseUS Senator Martin Heinrich announced that the bill had passed the Senate and been signed into law. Heinrich praised the bill’s ability to help prevent the flow of illegal products making their way to American consumers.
“For too long, illicit e-cigarettes produced in the People’s Republic of China have been flowing into our country and threatening public health,” said Heinrich, who introduced the bill alongside US Senator John Cornyn and US Representative Beth Van Duyne.
“That’s why, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I worked hard to give the federal government clear authority to destroy unauthorized e-cigarette products at the border, before they reach our communities.” He added Heinrich.
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The senator said this step would protect public health and reduce the risk of illegal e-cigarette products reaching children.
Illegal vaping products can lead to a number of significant health risks due to unknown and unregulated ingredients, high nicotine concentrations, and toxic substances such as heavy metals.
These potentially dangerous products are particularly harmful to underage users, affecting brain development and increasing the risk of addiction at an early age.
“We have seen too many illegal e-cigarettes slip through enforcement loopholes, posing health and safety risks to Americans,” Van Duyne said. He said In a press release before signing the bill.
Disposable vape products can also be a nightmare for the environment. E-cigarettes can leach toxic chemicals into soil and water, harming wildlife and ecosystems.
It just can’t Non-biodegradable plastic They have become a major contributor to long-term microplastic pollution, but improperly disposed of lithium batteries inside e-cigarettes can also pose fire risks in landfills, recycling facilities, and even garbage trucks.
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