Big Tobacco comes out on top after US FDA shake-up
The FDA's new looser regulations will allow hundreds more vape and nicotine pouch products to enter the market, a shift driven by industry lobbying and political influence.Summary
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a policy shift allowing manufacturers to sell unauthorized vaping products if they meet certain application standards, a move that could unleash hundreds of new products onto the market. This decision, described by critics as circumventing standard public comment periods and driven by aggressive lobbying from tobacco executives, reverses previous restrictions aimed at limiting youth access. The policy change, which mirrors a longstanding industry request, has been defended by the White House as a way to expand access to products that help adults quit smoking, despite concerns that it may expose consumers to untested products and undermine public health safeguards. The shift is viewed as a significant victory for tobacco companies, which have successfully lobbied for the change and are expected to see increased sales and the potential launch of new flavored versions of existing products.
(Source：WTVB)
