“ We will continue to take every opportunity to work with our partners at the FDA to intercept and seize products that threaten US consumers .”
As a general rule , counterfeit products fall outside of consumer protection laws , with US Customs and Border Protection identifying upwards of 93,000 e-cigarettes that failed to meet federal regulations in 2020 alone .
“ This seizure makes clear to tobacco product manufacturers , retailers and importers that the FDA is keeping a close watch on the marketplace and will hold accountable those companies that violate tobacco laws and regulations ,” said director of the FDA ’ s Centre for Tobacco Products , Mitch Zeller , J . D .
Unfortunately , despite the best efforts of border patrol officers , the market for these fake products continues to grow . Deceptive sellers prey on the trust of unsuspecting vapers , peddling fake versions of well-known hardware in an illegal and dangerous practice .
“ Protecting American consumers from illicit and especially harmful tobacco products , such as counterfeit … e-cigarettes , is of utmost importance ,” said FDA Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs , Judy McMeekin .
“ We will continue to investigate and remove from the marketplace products that pose a particular danger to the public health .”
“ Many counterfeit , unapproved or unauthorized products are likely produced in unregulated facilities with unverified ingredients , posing a serious health concern to consumers .”
Speaking in 2019 , former acting FDA Commissioner Norman Sharpless insisted that officials don ’ t target individual vapers . However , he warned that if “ someone is manufacturing or distributing illicit , adulterated vaping products that caused illness and death for personal profit , we would consider that to be a criminal act .”
Authenticating your hardware
Clones of trusted hardware and e-cigarettes now litter the market and though they look near identical , they rarely achieve the same standards as authentic brands .
One of the most popular strategies used by legitimate vaping brands is to assign each device a unique authentication code .
These codes are typically situated on the reverse of the packaging , safely tucked away behind a ‘ scratch and check ’ label .
Once revealed , they can be entered onto the respective website , informing users if the product is genuine .
What to do if you come across counterfeit goods
If you believe you ’ ve purchased counterfeit hardware in good faith , your first port of call should always be the product manufacturer – this rings especially true if it was bought online .
Typically , the place of purchase will be able to provide evidence that your hardware is legitimate .
Additionally , alerting companies to illicit activity that directly impacts their brand , allows them to warn other buyers , as well as introduce further preventative measures .
Regulations surrounding the purchase of counterfeit goods can be confusing – especially if they were bought from an online retailer - so familiarising yourself with local laws will give you a better understanding of your position .
To combat this , a growing number of reputable companies have introduced advanced security tactics to ensure their products aren ’ t tampered with or fully replicated .
In some cases , you may be able to get a refund for fake goods , however , misleading sellers aren ’ t usually willing to part with their ill-gotten cash .
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