The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted authorization on Friday (June 21) for the use of non-tobacco flavored electronic cigarettes by adult smokers.
This decision suggests that certain flavors of vaping products may have the potential to help reduce the harmful effects associated with traditional cigarette smoking.
FDA Approves E-cigarettes Sale in the US
The agency announced the authorization of four menthol products from NJOY, a company that was acquired by tobacco giant Altria in 2023, known for manufacturing Marlboro cigarettes.
Out of all the e-cigarette products available, the FDA has only authorized the sale of 27. All other products have been flavored with tobacco, which isn't popular among young people.
The FDA emphasized that the decision applied exclusively to the four authorized devices and did not extend to any other menthol-flavored e-cigarette products.
The decision adds further weight to the assertion made by vaping companies that their products can potentially reduce the harmful effects of smoking.
Smoking is widely recognized as a leading cause of cancer, lung disease, and heart disease, resulting in approximately 480,000 deaths in the United States each year.
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Parents Groups Criticize FDA's Decision
According to Fortune, the decision was met with immediate criticism from parent groups and anti-tobacco advocates. They have been urging regulators for years to prevent the sale of menthol and other flavors that can attract teenagers.
According to Meredith Berkman, co-founder of Parents Against Vaping E-cigarettes, this decision has the potential to perpetuate the ongoing youth vaping epidemic.
In recent years, there has been a decline in youth vaping, with approximately 10% of high schoolers reporting e-cigarette use last year. A large majority of individuals who engaged in vaping opted for flavored options, with menthol being a popular choice.
All the e-cigarettes previously authorized by the FDA have been tobacco-based, and they are not commonly used by young people who vape.
Njoy is among the select few companies that have been granted FDA approval for their vaping products. Similar to other products on the market, the menthol varieties are designed as cartridges that can be inserted into a reusable device. This device heats liquid nicotine, transforming it into an inhalable aerosol.
The FDA's authorization coincides with the US government's decision to postpone a ban on menthol cigarettes, which may be extended indefinitely.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who recently held a hearing criticizing the FDA for its lack of action on vaping regulation, expressed similar concerns as Richardson, The Hill reported.
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