Senator Chuck Schumer demanded, in a letter to the Food and Drug Administration, to release a report of the sales of vape and e-cigarette products from China, the Daily News learned Sunday.
Schumer called for the FDA to report how it identifies Illicit nicotine products in fear that Chinese vape makers are creating a “knockoff nicotine” product that kids in the United States are using and to evade FDA oversight.
Schumer in a two-page letter to FDA’s acting commissioner Kyle Diamantas, called for the FDA to report on the identification process of the Illicit nicotine products, investigate if Chinese manufacturers are using chemical substitutes to evade FDA oversight and use all possible measures and authorities to stop and remove unlawful products.
“New York City is an obvious destination and market for these products. With millions of consumers, thousands of retailers and one of the world’s largest transportation and distribution networks, New York cannot become a dumping ground for illicit tobacco and potentially knockoff nicotine products manufactured in foreign countries—particularly products designed, flavored, packaged or marketed in ways that appeal to youth,” the letter says.
Schumer held concerns over FDA staffing after cuts in 2025 by the Trump administration and how it is affecting the process of monitoring illicit nicotine products. The letter cited that 70% of e-cigarette sales in the U.S., including more than 97% of disposable e-cigarettes, were for unauthorized products.
Schumer called for a response from the FDA’s acting commissioner within 30 days.