US FDA Bans Sale of Juul E-Cigarettes... Juul "Disagrees, Will Appeal"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the 23rd (local time) issued a sales ban order targeting Juul's electronic cigarettes, which had been embroiled in controversy over the increase in youth smoking.

According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), after reviewing the materials submitted by Juul, the FDA decided that there is insufficient evidence to prove that electronic cigarettes are appropriate for public health.

The FDA pointed out various concerns, including the possibility of harmful chemicals being released from liquid nicotine-containing electronic cigarette cartridges. It also mentioned that Juul's electronic cigarettes played a role in the increase of youth smoking. The FDA warned that if Juul does not recall all products currently distributed in the market, it may take law enforcement actions against Juul and retailers.

Juul, which targeted the market with flavored products such as sweet and fruit flavors, gained high popularity in the U.S. since 2017. However, as the rapid increase of electronic cigarette use among teenagers came under scrutiny, the FDA banned the sale of flavored products other than regular cigarette flavor and menthol in 2020. WSJ reported that Juul's market share of electronic cigarettes is about one-third.

Juul immediately issued a rebuttal statement saying, "We do not agree with the FDA's decision." In the statement, it said, "We have provided sufficient explanatory materials regarding the concerns," and "We are reviewing all options, including filing an objection."

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