JUUL LABS SUPPORTS IPRC AND NCPC JOINT CAMPAIGN TO RAISE AWARENESS AND EDUCATION ON ILLICIT VAPOR PRODUCTS

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October 21, 2020

Juul Labs is proud to support the recently announced public-private partnership between the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPRC) and National Crime Prevention Council to launch a campaign that will raise awareness and educate on the consequences of illicit vapor products and support law enforcement and local communities to fight the problem.

An emerging public health issue, these black-market products undermine underage-prevention measures and present additional health and safety risks for adult consumers. As part of Juul Labs’ global enforcement program against illicit vapor products, this partnership reflects our broader commitment to resetting the category and collaborating with key stakeholders, including regulators, policymakers, and public health officials to combat underage use and transition adult smokers away from combustible cigarettes.

As part of this campaign, and with the support of IPRC, NCPC will draw upon its vast, nationwide network to inform law enforcement, trade partners, and other adult community leaders about the public health consequences of counterfeit and other black-market vapor products. It also will provide critical tools and resources to support law enforcement at state and local levels.

Illicit vapor products raise a number of negative public health consequences, such as:

• Presenting additional health and safety risks for adult consumers;
• Undermining underage-prevention measures;
• Evading taxes and impacting government revenue;
• Facilitating criminal activity and threatening security; and
• Undercutting the rule of law, regulatory frameworks, and public health policies.

These products may contain harmful chemicals that are not present in other authentic products, often are produced in unsanitary conditions without manufacturing and quality controls, and may lack ingredient testing and other product characterization.

As critically, such products are easier for minors to access because they are:

• Sold online with little to no age-verification;
• Sold at brick-and-mortar retail outlets that are less likely to comply with age-verification requirements; and
• Sold through non-traditional channels like social sourcing.

Supporting public-private partnerships like the IPRC/NCPC initiative is one element of Juul Labs’ strategic approach to combating the illicit trade of vapor products. By empowering stakeholders through awareness and education, we can address the illicit trade of vapor products and foster a more responsible marketplace for the category.

About National Crime Prevention Council
The National Crime Prevention Council’s mission is to be the nation’s leader in helping people keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe from crime. To achieve this, NCPC produces tools that communities can use to learn crime prevention strategies, engage community members, and coordinate with local agencies. NCPC’s public service advertising campaigns have generated more than $2 billion in donated media. NCPC distributes crime prevention messages to its network of nearly 15,000 state and local law enforcement agencies, crime prevention associations, community groups, foundations, and corporate partners who reach millions in communities across the country. For more information on how NCPC can be a public safety expert for you or how to “Take A Bite Out of Crime®,” visit www.ncpc.org.

About National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center
The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, working collaboratively with its public and private sector partners, stands at the forefront of the United States government’s response to combating global intellectual property theft and enforcing intellectual properties rights violations. The IPR Center was established to combat global intellectual property theft – and, accordingly, has a significant role policing the sale and distribution of counterfeit goods on websites, social media, and the dark web. For more information, visit www.iprcenter.gov.