Reporting the Importation of Unlawful Products
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offers an e-Allegations portal, which provides a website page for the trade community and the public to report suspected trade violations to the CBP, including the importing of unlawful electronic cigarette products. The e-Allegations process enables CBP, in collaboration with its governmental partners, to protect the U.S. economy from the effects of unfair trade practices and guard against the entry of products that could pose a threat to health and safety.
The following link can be used to file an e-Allegation on the CBP website portal:
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/e-allegations
Filing a Trade Violation Allegation: to file a trade violation allegation using the e-Allegation webpage portal, click the link above and follow these instructions:
- CBP E-Allegation Main Page: Click on the blue button titled “Report Trade Violation.”
- Trade Violations Reporting Page: Click on the red button titled “Report Trade Violations.”
- Contact Details Page: Under the “Who Are You” heading, choose the drop-down option that best describes you and fill in your address, phone number and email address. Or you can select “Anonymous” under the “Who Are You” heading.
- Violation Type Page: Select either “Classification of Merchandise” if the products were not described properly (e.g., electronic cigarettes are described as toys) or “Prohibited Items” if the products are unlawful to sell in the United States.
- Allegations Detail Page: Select “Yes” or “No” to the question, “Is this an immediate threat to loss of life or damage to property?" Under “Violation Type,” select either “Classification of Merchandise” (for misdescribed products), “Prohibited Items” (for unlawful products) or another appropriate classification. In the “Violation Description” box, type in specific information about the merchandise at issue and reference any evidence of the violation. In the “Product Category” box, select “24: Tobacco.” Under the “Violator Product” box, list the specific brand name of the product and any other identifying information about the merchandise. In the “Country of Origin” box, select the country from which the products were originally shipped.
- Violator Details Page: On this page, type in the name, country and address information of the company that is allegedly violating the law.
- Upload Files Page: Upload any documentation that supports the e-allegation report.
- Review Page: Review all the information to ensure it is correct and then submit the information.
Questions? Contact Tom Briant (tomb@cdaweb.net; (703) 208-1641),
Kathee Facchiano (kfacchiano@capitoldecisions.com; (202) 638-1950)
or Sarah Herbert (sherbert@capitoldecisions.com; (202) 638-0326).