(Reuters) -On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized four of Altria’s menthol e-cigarette products for sale in the country. These are the first flavored vapes ever permitted by the agency.
The decision indicates vape makers can demonstrate to the FDA that their products provide significant benefits for smoking cessation. This evidence must outweigh the risks posed to youth.
Matthew Farrelly, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products Office of Science, emphasized the robust evidence for adult smokers. He emphasized that this evidence was sufficient to justify the decision despite risks to youth.
The FDA first began regulating e-cigarettes in August 2016 and it has authorized 27 e-cigarette products for sale in the U.S. to date, including Altria-owned NJOY’s menthol vape products.
The regulator has rejected the vast majority of the 26 million applications reviewed, including those from British American Tobacco. None of the applications related to flavored products were approved.
This has sparked pushback from the industry, with manufacturers launching court cases to challenge its decisions, some of which were successful.
Jefferies analyst Owen Bennett noted that the FDA’s approval of Altria’s NJOY menthol vape products is positive for the industry. He mentioned that it signals potential for flavors to return with Bluetooth age-verified technology.
Consequently, by granting this authorization, the FDA aims to balance consumer choice with public health concerns.
FDA authorizes flavored vape products based on Altria’s NJOY’s compliance with rigorous regulatory standards and safety protocols.
Additionally, this regulatory approval is expected to influence the broader vaping industry.
The FDA authorizes flavored vaping products after rigorous evaluation, ensuring ongoing monitoring and evaluation to assess their real-world effects.
Moving forward, continued regulatory oversight and transparency will be crucial as the FDA ensures authorized products uphold public health standards while meeting consumer demand.
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