HR6845-119

What This Bill Does

The S.T.O.P. Illicit Vapes Act creates a federal enforcement task force against unauthorized e-cigarettes. Within 30 days of enactment, the Attorney General and HHS Secretary must establish or reestablish a multi-agency task force to combat illegal importation, distribution, and sale of e-cigarettes. The task force must develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to reduce unauthorized e-cigarettes in the market, set goals, share information, and coordinate enforcement. Required members include representatives from FDA, DOJ, CBP, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, FTC, Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, and other relevant agencies selected by the co-chairs. The task force must meet at least every 30 days and report by April 30 and October 31 each year to congressional judiciary, health, commerce, and appropriations committees. Reports must describe each agency authority, enforcement actions against unauthorized manufacturers, importers, and distributors, including criminal, civil, seizure, and forfeiture actions, recommendations for additional criminal or civil authority, and areas for interagency collaboration improvement. The task force terminates after 10 years.

Who Benefits and How

Consumers and youth benefit if coordinated enforcement reduces unauthorized e-cigarettes in the market. FDA tobacco regulators benefit from a formal interagency structure for information sharing and enforcement coordination. Authorized e-cigarette retailers and compliant manufacturers benefit if illegal competitors face more investigations, seizures, forfeitures, and prosecutions. Congressional oversight committees benefit from semiannual reports on agency authorities, actions, and needed powers.

Who Bears the Burden and How

DOJ, HHS, FDA, CBP, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Postal Inspection Service, FTC, HSI, and FBI staff must participate in monthly meetings, share information, coordinate strategy, and contribute semiannual reports. Unauthorized e-cigarette manufacturers, importers, and distributors face higher criminal, civil, seizure, and forfeiture exposure. Federal taxpayers fund the task force coordination and enforcement work over a 10-year period.

Key Provisions

• Establishes or reestablishes a multi-agency illicit e-cigarette task force within 30 days.
• Requires a comprehensive strategy to reduce unauthorized e-cigarettes through goals, information sharing, and coordination.
• Requires FDA, DOJ, CBP, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Postal Inspection Service, FTC, HSI, FBI, and other relevant agencies to participate.
• Requires the task force to meet at least every 30 days.
• Requires semiannual congressional reports on enforcement authorities, actions, added authority needs, and collaboration gaps.
• Terminates the task force 10 years after establishment.