Signage is seen outdoors of the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) headquarters in White Oak, Maryland, U.S., August 29, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Picture
Oct 12 (Reuters) – The U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday licensed e-cigarette merchandise for the primary time ever, permitting their sale by a unit of British American Tobacco Plc (BAT) (BATS.L) in the USA.
It cleared the corporate’s Vuse Solo e-cigarette and the accompanying cartridges for use for refills.
Nevertheless, the company denied advertising and marketing authorization for sure flavored merchandise submitted beneath unit R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co’s Vuse Solo model for failing to display they might appropriately shield public well being.
E-cigarettes vaporize a nicotine-laced liquid, and their use amongst youngsters has been hovering, with well being regulators bearing down on producers for advertising and marketing to youth.
In September, the FDA delayed its resolution on whether or not Juul and different main producers together with BAT can promote their merchandise in the USA, because it weighs the general public well being influence of the merchandise.
Knowledge from a 2021 survey indicated that an estimated 2.06 million U.S. center and highschool college students are utilizing e-cigarettes, with Puff Bar, Vuse and Juul among the many hottest manufacturers.
Most customers mentioned they used flavored merchandise, with fruit, sweet and desserts among the many commonest. read more
The company mentioned the survey knowledge reinforces its resolution to authorize the tobacco-flavored merchandise as they aren’t as common among the many youth.
“The producer’s knowledge demonstrates its tobacco-flavored merchandise may benefit addicted grownup people who smoke who change to those merchandise – both fully or with a big discount in cigarette consumption – by lowering their publicity to dangerous chemical compounds,” Mitch Zeller, director of the FDA’s Middle for Tobacco Merchandise, mentioned in an announcement.
Juul and Vuse have solely bought tobacco and menthol flavors in the USA for almost two years.
The FDA on Tuesday additionally imposed strict digital, radio and tv promoting restrictions on R.J. Reynolds.
Juul didn’t instantly reply to a Reuters request for remark.
Reporting by Amruta Khandekar; Enhancing by Devika Syamnath
Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
