US FDA Significantly Rolls Back Flavored E-Cigarette Regulations Amid 'Trump Re-Election Disadvantage' Threats

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Kim Bong-su] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to ban the sale of all flavored electronic cigarettes in cartridge form, except for regular tobacco and menthol flavors, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 1st (local time).

The FDA is expected to announce this plan as early as the 3rd. However, flavored open tank-type e-cigarettes will be excluded from the regulation. This is reportedly because teenagers and children, who need health protection, prefer cartridge-type over open tank-type. Flavored e-cigarettes are classified into cartridge types, which are pre-filled and sealed, and open tank types, where users can mix contents according to their preferences.

This is a significant retreat compared to the initial announcement last September by the Trump administration, which stated it would ban the sale of all flavored e-cigarettes except for regular tobacco flavor. The Trump administration is preparing regulatory policies as the rate of e-cigarette use among U.S. youth has surged recently, and many deaths from unexplained lung diseases have occurred. President Trump also recently signed a bill banning the sale of tobacco and e-cigarettes to those under 21 years old.

E-cigarette companies have also taken voluntary measures to regulate sales. The leading company, Juul, stopped selling its most popular product, mint flavor, which accounts for 70% of its U.S. sales last month, and had previously ceased sales of fruit flavors such as mango.

The WSJ analyzed this as "a compromise between Trump administration officials who want to resolve the surge in e-cigarette use among teenagers and small businesses and those concerned about political damage to President Trump."

In particular, e-cigarette companies are known to have persuaded the Trump administration by citing public opinion polls showing that flavored e-cigarette sales regulations are unpopular in key states for next year's presidential election. Some public health experts argue that menthol-flavored e-cigarettes should continue to be sold to serve as a substitute for regular menthol cigarettes.

The annual sales of flavored e-cigarettes in the U.S. reach about $9 billion, and if the new regulations are implemented, sales at e-cigarette retail stores are expected to decrease by about 80%.

President Trump told reporters the day before, "We will remove certain flavored e-cigarettes for a period of time," adding, "We will protect families and children." However, he also added, "We will protect the (e-cigarette) industry as well."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.