FDA faces scrutiny over safety of nicotine alternatives

Aug.04.2022
FDA faces scrutiny over safety of nicotine alternatives
FDA under scrutiny for lack of action on synthetic nicotine ban and delayed PMTA process. Review to be conducted by Reagan-Udall Foundation.

As we all know, the FDA has come under scrutiny for approving safer nicotine alternatives and related issues. Last month, the agency faced harsh criticism from Senators Dick Durbin (Democrat, Illinois) and Susan Collins (Republican, Maine). In a letter, the senators cited a news report and criticized the FDA for its lack of action on the "synthetic nicotine ban," stating that the FDA "appears to have once again failed to protect our nation's children.


Similarly, Chairman of the Smoke-Free Kids campaign, Matt Myers emphasizes that the FDA should exercise its authority and remove the products from the market. "All unauthorized synthetic nicotine products are now illegal, and according to the law, they must be removed from the market now, not at some uncertain date in the future.


Furthermore, the FDA has faced continuous condemnation for failing to complete the PMTA process in a timely manner at the designated deadline. Adding insult to injury, the FDA has also been forced to pause its recently issued Juul marketing denial order (MDO), citing the need for more thorough review.


Of course, to make these mistakes look like they're being taken seriously, Commissioner Califf announced a review of the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). Commissioner Califf stated, "Every field is full of dedicated and talented people who work tirelessly on various scientific, policy, legal, and administrative activities. FDA employees should receive the best support so that they can fulfill their steadfast commitment to public health and to the American public we serve.


The audit will be carried out by a non-profit organization, the Reagan-Udall Foundation, in collaboration with unnamed experts to evaluate the processes and procedures, resources, and organizational structure of the food plan and CTP.


Is the Reagan-Udall Foundation reliable?


According to Filter, many people have expressed disappointment with the results of the self-audit announcement of the Reagan-Udall Foundation. "Many of the individuals investigating the foundation were handpicked from Reagan-Udall's board of directors, who are supporters of the safer nicotine zone," Filter reports. The foundation has not disclosed how many people participated in the audit, adding to the uncertainty around the issue. Notably, board members include Georges C. Benjamin, who is a proponent of prohibitionist organization Truth Initiative, and James E.K. Hildreth, a professor at Nashville's Meharry Medical College who has received millions of dollars in research grants from Juul.


According to a former employee of CTP interviewed by Filter, "I don't expect any major changes." It is currently unclear whether the Reagan-Udall Foundation will be a prohibitionist collaborator or a true partner to millions of adult smokers who are using e-cigarette products to quit smoking.


The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been accused of failing to fulfill its regulatory authority to approve e-cigarette products that promote public health, without remorse. This is not due to an overloaded system or inadequate funding - the agency collects nearly $1 billion in user fees annually. "The FDA's bureaucrats have refused to take responsibility for this fact, which is the reality," added Amanda Wheeler, president of the American e-cigarette manufacturer.


Statement:


This article is compiled from third-party information and is provided for industry exchange and learning purposes only.


This article does not represent the views of 2FIRSTS and 2FIRSTS is unable to confirm the authenticity and accuracy of the article's content. The compilation of this article is solely for industry communication and research purposes.


Due to limitations in translation abilities, the compiled article may not accurately express the same message as the original text. Please refer to the original article for accuracy.


2FIRSTS fully aligns with the Chinese government's stance and statements regarding domestic issues, issues involving Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, as well as foreign affairs.


The copyright of compiled information belongs to the original media and author. If there is any infringement, please contact us for removal.


This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

FDA Highlights Product Characterization as a Foundational Requirement in ENDS PMTA Reviews
FDA Highlights Product Characterization as a Foundational Requirement in ENDS PMTA Reviews
During its ongoing PMTA roundtable, FDA emphasized that product characterization is a foundational element in the review of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). The agency underscored the need for complete product identifying information, validation and verification of test methods on the specific product type, and the appropriate use of tobacco product master files (TPMFs) to support complex or proprietary ingredients in PMTA submissions.
Feb.10
Kazakhstan: Over 131,000 vapes seized in Almaty and Pavlodar case; about $1.422 million cited
Kazakhstan: Over 131,000 vapes seized in Almaty and Pavlodar case; about $1.422 million cited
Kazakhstan’s financial monitoring authorities said a group is suspected of illicitly distributing vaping devices in Almaty and Pavlodar Region, using Telegram as a sales channel with courier delivery. During searches, investigators seized more than 131,000 vapes valued at 711 million tenge (about $1.422 million, using 1 tenge = $0.0020).
Mar.04 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Imperial Brands Launches Red, Gold and Silver iD Heated Tobacco Sticks in Europe
Imperial Brands Launches Red, Gold and Silver iD Heated Tobacco Sticks in Europe
Imperial Brands PLC said on February 18, 2026 that it has launched its new Red, Gold and Silver iD heated tobacco sticks in Greece and Poland, with a broader rollout across Europe planned for 2026.
Feb.18
BAT faces London shareholder lawsuit over alleged disclosure failures tied to North Korea business
BAT faces London shareholder lawsuit over alleged disclosure failures tied to North Korea business
British American Tobacco is facing a shareholder lawsuit in London alleging it failed to properly disclose to markets information about breaches of U.S. sanctions linked to its North Korea-related business. BAT agreed in 2023 to pay more than $635 million to U.S. authorities after a subsidiary admitted conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions by selling tobacco products to North Korea and committing bank fraud from 2007 to 2017.
Mar.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Guam names retailers fined for selling tobacco to under-21 customers; penalties range from $2,000 to $4,000
Guam names retailers fined for selling tobacco to under-21 customers; penalties range from $2,000 to $4,000
Guam disclosed enforcement details for its 2025 tobacco retail compliance program, showing a 97.1% compliance rate among 277 inspected retailers. Nine violations were recorded, including eight underage sales cases and one signage violation, with fines ranging from $500 to $4,000.
Feb.10 by 2FIRSTS.ai
West Virginia Senate Backs Vape Tax Increase to Offset Income Tax Cut
West Virginia Senate Backs Vape Tax Increase to Offset Income Tax Cut
The West Virginia Senate approved a 10% personal income tax cut on February 22, 2026, with part of the revenue offset coming from increased excise taxes on vape and e-cigarette products.
News
Feb.23