The Food and Drug Administration this week revealed plans to curb an influx of illegal vape products flowing into the United States from China.

Dr. Marty Makary, the FDA commissioner, said the agency will take a tougher approach to the matter, pledging the U.S. will “start confiscating and seizing” suspected illegal vape products entering the country.

Recommended Stories

• Missouri attorney general sues Planned Parenthood over abortion pill advertising
• Dr. Oz and FDA chief tout industry doing MAHA's bidding
• HHS to reform organ transplant system after investigation finds 'disturbing practices'

Beijing has defied regulations on such products, which vape stores across the U.S. have commonly sold despite FDA restrictions, said Markary, who is preparing to ask Congress for expanded authority to shut down illegal vaping imports, in a Monday interview with Bloomberg.

“Our border has been 100% porous when it comes to illegal vaping products,” Makary said. The agency has found that when it blocks one shipment at a port, it is simply rerouted through another, the FDA chief added as he previewed its plans to seek stronger authority to seize goods at ports and work more closely with other federal agencies such as the Justice Department.

“Eighty-five percent of the vaping products sold in the vape stores are illegal according to the FDA’s list,” Makary said during an ABC News interview, adding that just 39 e-cigarette products are authorized by the FDA to be legally marketed in the U.S.

“We’re going to start confiscating and seizing,” he said. “We’re going to take this seriously.”

Makary said the FDA recently sent 800 letters to retailers and distributors of vapes, warning them about selling unauthorized products.

“We don’t even know what’s in some of these vaping products,” he said. “We’re concerned about these vape shops that are popping up on every corner in America. Parents are not aware of what’s being sold there.”

The federal agency announced in May that it worked with federal immigration officers to confiscate nearly $34 million worth of “illegal, youth-appealing” vape products originating from China.

RURAL HOSPITAL TRANSFORMATION OR SLUSH FUND? KEY PROGRAM DEPENDS ON DR. OZ

“FDA and [Customs and Border Protection] personnel determined that, in an apparent attempt to evade duties and the review of products for import safety concerns, many of these unauthorized e-cigarette shipments contained vague product descriptions with incorrect values,” an FDA press release reads. “Upon examining shipments, the team found several brands of unauthorized e-cigarettes, including Snoopy Smoke, Raz, and others.”

“Many of these products are banned in China,” Makary said Monday. “They’re designed to make kids addicted to the product. There are unknown health risks.”