Customs and Trade Law Weekly Snapshot
Here is a recap of the latest customs and international trade law news: 
Don’t be a Target, Learn Best Practices to Mitigate FDA Enforcement
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is in full enforcement mode issuing 260 warning letters in 2021 alone! Now is the time to ensure your products are in compliance with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) prior to importation. Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and others engaged in the production or sale of over the counter (OTC) drugs or cosmetic products must be aware of FDA’s various enforcement mechanisms, and more importantly, how to avoid and/or mitigate such actions. FDA’s most common enforcement activities include notices of FDA action, warning letters, seizures, voluntary recalls, injunctions, and criminal prosecution.
Drug Paraphernalia, Priority Trade Initiatives, & Forced Labor
You don’t want to miss this one!
What: Drug Paraphernalia, Priority Trade Initiatives, & Forced Labor – An Update on CBP Enforcement
When: November 27th, 2018, 12:00PM-1:00PM EST
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HELP! CBP Seized My Tobacco Products as Drug Paraphernalia, What Now? / ¡AYUDA! CBP INCAUTO MIS PRODUCTOS DE TABACO COMO PARAFERNALIA DE DROGAS, ¿AHORA QUÉ HAGO?
Our office has increasingly received requests for guidance on importation of marijuana paraphernalia products to the U.S. where twenty-six (26) states have legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes and/or personal consumption such as California, Massachusetts, Maine and Nevada. The purpose of this article is to dispel the confusion as to why paraphernalia products (grinders, storage containers, rolling paper, pipes, vape pens, etc.) are continuously being seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), even when such products may be used by tobacco smokers. It is important to address the realities between federal and state laws regulating drug paraphernalia products so importers can avoid CBP’s enforcement of U.S. Laws.
Why Does CBP Stop Drug Paraphernalia?
The End of Vape Shops, Hookah Shops, & E-Cigs? FDA’s New “Deeming” Laws
On April 24, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA) announced that it was officially “deeming” e-cigs, e-hookah, vape pens, and other tobacco products subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). This article covered the proposed regulation at the time. On May 10, 2016 the FDA published the final rule on the new deeming law.
What Are Tobacco Products and What’s Being Regulated?
White House’s OMB Intervenes to Weaken FDA’s Proposed Regulation of E-Cigs
On April 24, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) issued a proposed regulation which would subject the currently unregulated e-cigarette industry to FDA regulation under the authority of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The proposed rule put e-cigarettes with a list of products FDA “deemed” tobacco products, and as such, subject to the FD&C Act. OMB intervened to weaken FDA’s original proposal.
E-Cigs “Deemed” Tobacco Under New FDA Proposed Rule
On April 24, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced what some call a “long- awaited” proposed regulation that will impact the future of the currently booming e-cigarette industry. Currently, e-cigarettes are not a part of FDA’s purview and have no FDA oversight – FDA’s proposed rule intends to change this in a big way.
How is Tobacco Defined Currently?
Section 201(rr) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), (21 U.S.C. 321(rr)),as amended by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Tobacco Control Act), currently defines the term “tobacco product,” as ” any product made or derived from tobacco that is intended for human consumption, including any component, part, or accessory of a tobacco product… “.
The Tobacco Control Act permitted FDA to regulate cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco, and smokeless tobacco automatically as “tobacco product” under the FD&C Act.
Section 901 of the FD&C Act gives the FDA leeway to include “any other tobacco products that the Secretary by regulation deems to be subject to this chapter” and therefore subject to FDA regulation under the FD&C Act.