The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the marketing of fruit-flavored e-cigarettes on Tuesday, the first time the agency has approved a non-tobacco flavored e-cigarette product, as the agency faces growing political pressure.
FDA stated that the approved product comes from Los Angeles-based Glas, a small e-cigarette manufacturer that uses technology to verify the age of the device. Its approved cigarette cartridge flavors include classic mint, fresh mint, gold and sapphire.
The regulatory agency said: "The FDA conducted a rigorous, scientific review of these products and found that the applicant fully demonstrated that Glas' device access restriction technology, combined with the marketing restrictions required by the FDA, has the potential to effectively reduce the likelihood of adolescent use of the product." Makary), accusing it of not approving flavored e-cigarette and nicotine products quickly enough.
U.S. regulators have avoided licensing flavored e-cigarettes, and the FDA has said it will continue to require substantial evidence of the benefits to smokers of e-cigarette flavors that appeal to teenagers, such as fruity or candy flavors.
Earlier this year, however, the agency adjusted its strict stance on flavored e-cigarettes, a shift stemming from intensifying lobbying by the tobacco industry and political pressure to allow more products to come to market.
With this latest decision, the FDA has now approved 45 e-cigarette products for sale in the United States.