The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has taken action on distributors of illicit vapes using its services for business shipments, letters reviewed by Reuters show.

“The letters, previously unreported, show that USPS wrote to major New York-based distributor Demand Vape, blocking it from using its services after New York City's Law Department, which represents the city's government and officials in legal matters, provided evidence that its shipments broke laws,” wrote Reuters.

Reuters reported that USPS revoked Demand Vape's mailing exception last month after it received evidence the company shipped vapes lacking FDA authorization and that violated a local flavor ban, a letter from USPS to the company, dated July 15, showed.

"Your local Buffalo BME Office will not accept any packages from... Demand Vape that contain ENDS [electronic nicotine delivery systems] products," the letter read.

Demand Vape said it complied with relevant laws and was contesting the revocation, adding the industry operates in a "regulatory grey zone" with only a small number of FDA-authorised products that do not meet consumer demand.

USPS did not respond to a request for comment, Reuters said.

Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized only 39 e-cigarette products. Under a 2021 law, USPS is generally restricted from mailing vapes directly to consumers with some exceptions per the report.

“Some other large carriers, including FedEx, refuse to ship vapes. DHL only offers carriage for business shipments with prior approval,” wrote the outlet.

Earlier this summer, NACS sent a letter to the Trump Administration asking it to address the crisis of illicit vapes from China which the c-store and travel center industries are facing.