US - Federal: The US Marshals Service seized more than 45,000 unauthorised e-cigarette products valued at more than $700,000 in California. The seized products were mostly flavoured, disposable e-cigarette products, among them brands such as Puff Bar/Puff, Elf Bar/EB Design, Esco Bar and others. Brian King, director of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products,
said: “FDA has been unequivocally clear that we are committed to using the full scope of our enforcement tools including seizures to hold those who peddle unauthorised e-cigarettes accountable. The writing is on the wall for those in the tobacco product supply chain who fail to heed the law.” This action represents the first time the FDA and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have seized tobacco products in coordination with the US Marshals Service.