Conaway, Wasserman Schultz Introduce Legislation to Track Tobacco Products
December 18, 2025
Washington D.C. — Today, Congressman Herb Conaway Jr., MD (D-NJ) and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) introduced the tobacco Tracking, Reporting, and Accountability for Compliance in Enforcement Act (The Tobacco TRACE Act). This legislation would establish a national track-and-trace system requiring all tobacco products to carry unique, secure tracking codes by June of next year, improving accountability and enforcement across the supply chain.
“For too long, gaps in our tobacco oversight system have allowed illicit products to slip through the cracks, undermining public health and law enforcement alike,” said Congressman Conaway. “The Tobacco TRACE Act brings accountability into the 21st century by establishing a secure, national track-and-trace system for tobacco products. By requiring unique, tamper-resistant tracking codes by June 1, 2026, this legislation will strengthen enforcement across the entire supply chain, crack down on illegal tobacco trafficking, and ensure manufacturers and distributors are playing by the rules. This is a commonsense step to protect consumers, support compliance, and give regulators the tools they need to do their jobs effectively.”
“Overly lax oversight of tobacco means illegal and harmful versions of this already-deadly product are more likely to end up on shelves, erode public health and needlessly increase medical system costs," said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. "By swiftly establishing a strong track-and-trace system, we will help get these bad-actor products off the market, ensure everyone plays by the rules, and ultimately, reduce tobacco use. Consumers need regulators to have all the tools they need to do this work. This bill does that.”
For the Tobacco TRACE Act bill text click here.
The Tobacco TRACE Act is cosponsored by: Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
The Tobacco TRACE Act by the following organizations: American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Campaign forTobacco Free Kids, American Cancer Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“With over 1.6 million middle and high schoolers in the U.S. reporting use of e-cigarettes – many of which are being sold unlawfully – it is critical that we have the tools necessary to protect young people from these harmful products. The Tobacco TRACE Act is one important way we can address the availability of these unauthorized products, helping prevent young people from obtaining them in the first place. Pediatricians call on Congress to support this vital measure,” said Susan J. Kressly, MD, FAAP, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids strongly supports the legislation introduced by Rep. Conaway and Rep. Wasserman Schultz to require codes on the labels of tobacco products to help track the products throughout the supply chain. We commend their efforts to prevent illegal e-cigarettes and other tobacco products from being imported, distributed and sold in the United States and to hold bad actors accountable forendangering the health of our kids,” said Yolonda C. Richardson, President and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
“Illegal tobacco products continue to move through the supply chain unchecked, making it easier for these products to reach store shelves and kids’ hands. Effective enforcement depends on being able to monitor tobacco products as they move from production or import to retail, and to trace products back to their source. We commend Representative Conaway’s leadership in introducing legislation to require codes on tobacco products labels for the purpose of tracking or tracing,” said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association.