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Online illegal drug selling has become a plague.

Illegal drug stores will have a hard time from now on thanks to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration initiative. After issuing 53 warning letters to these websites, the FDA decided to take active measures to close 4,402 online illegal drug stores. Fortunately, FDA is not alone in this war against the drug epidemic. The entire operation is called Pangea IX, and the Interpol leads it.

This operation is worldwide spread and includes law enforcement, customs agencies and regulatory authorities from over 100 countries. According to George Karavestos, director of FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, Pangea IX is the proof that FDA collaboration the international partners are committed to protecting every citizen from this plague.

Until now, thanks to the collaboration with Customs and Border Protection, around 800 parcels were intercepted after a series of thorough inspections at International Mail Facilities (IMFs). Furthermore, the agency declared that if these packages are found illegal, they will be destroyed.

In addition to this, the most common drugs that U.S. consumers illegally purchase from abroad are used to treat asthma, glaucoma, high cholesterol, narcolepsy, and depression. Moreover, in other countries, besides the United States, authorities also discovered illegal healthcare products and other powerful drugs used to tackle possibly fatal diseases.

Plus, Interpol underlined that authorities from Myanmar found illegal medication for cancer whereas in Singapore were found drugs for weight loss, infertility, pregnancy test kits, sleeping pills and anabolic steroids.

During Pangea VIII, one of the previous operations, 2,400 websites were closed, 20.7 million illegal drugs and supplements were confiscated, and 156 arrests were made thanks to the joint effort of agencies from 115 countries.

Until now, Pangea IX closed 4,932 websites, seized 12.2 million illegal drugs, 270,000 medical devices and made 393 arrests thanks to the initiative of 103 countries. This increase in the number of arrests and websites closed proves how efficient this operation is. On the other hand, it also reveals how critical the situation is and how widely this illegal drug market has spread.

Hopefully, these new regulations will discourage the people who are responsible for this online illicit drug selling. FDA and the other partners promised that they will double their efforts in order to put an end to this crisis.

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FDA takes serious measures.

According to FDA, The Federal Drug Administration has recently engaged in a project of cutting out the sales of e-cigs and cigarettes. These drastic actions have the purpose of preventing young people under 18 years old from becoming addicted to nicotine.

People buy e-cigars and liquids to inhale vapors. Many owners of shops which sell these liquids and electronic devices to people think that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relies on way too strict regulations that will bring down the industry.

Last Thursday, the FDA banned sales to anyone younger than the age of 18, to prevent the following generation to become nicotine addicted. This decision of the FDA is meant to reduce inappropriate sales to minors. Presently, FDA makes regulations on pipe and hookah tobacco, cigars and e-cigarettes and also on roll-your-own tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and cigarettes. After 90 days, these rules will be official.

According to Mike Johnson, a shop owner on South Willow Street, in New Hampshire, you are not allowed any longer to sell e-products to anyone who is not 18 years old. None of the vapor companies agree with these regulations because it will lower their sales.

The FDA stated that all products entered on the marked after February 15^th, 2007, should start to apply retroactively for approval, a process which will discourage most of the companies as it is not only expensive but it will also take a few years. It means that it will too risky to make such an investment which will cease to be a source of substantial profit.

SFATA, The Smoke-Free Alternatives Trade Association, announced that the final rule aims to ban almost every vapor product which is currently sold on the market, in case the current “grandfather date” remains the same.

Many owners complain that the e-cigs and the liquids are seen as if they were cigarettes but according to them, they are not. Even if the level of chemicals is not the same, the e-liquid or juice used in the e-cigs also contains nicotine in a certain amount depending on what the customer wants.

Others support the FDA’s decision saying that people usually fool themselves by thinking that using e-cigs will make them quit. Indeed, they will get rid of the typical cigarettes, but they will remain addicted to the habit of smoking. Therefore, if you want to stop, experts think that there are much healthier and efficient ways, instead of relying on giving away your money on e-cigs and liquids.

Image Source:Wikipedia

FDA Attacks Illegal Drug Selling

FDA Takes Measures

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