FDA Rejects Over 88,000 Nicotine Products, Crackdown Continues

Aug.05.2022
FDA Rejects Over 88,000 Nicotine Products, Crackdown Continues
FDA rejects manufacturers of over 88,000 nicotine-containing products, including synthetic nicotine, without approval. Evaluation of over 350 products ongoing.

The FDA announced on Wednesday that they have sent "refuse to accept" letters to manufacturers of over 88,000 products containing laboratory-made nicotine.


Stephanie Keith/Getty Images (no translation needed as this is already in standard journalistic English)


Brian Kin, Director of the Center for Tobacco Products, revealed the progress of the FDA's regulation of non-tobacco nicotine sources (i.e. synthetic nicotine). The FDA was authorized earlier this year to regulate synthetic nicotine.


Regulatory gray area.


Brian King stated in a letter to unapproved makers of nasal snuff that "selling or distributing any new tobacco products without pre-market authorization in the U.S. market is illegal." The FDA has not approved any synthetic nicotine products for marketing.


According to regulations set by the FDA, as of July 13th, all unauthorized synthetic nicotine products are considered illegal. Therefore, technically, any manufacturer that has not received FDA approval cannot sell their products after that date.


However, the FDA also noted that it will continue to evaluate over 350 synthetic nicotine products. While many of these products (most of which are e-cigarettes) are technically not allowed to be sold, it is still unclear whether the FDA will remove them from the market upon evaluation. The FDA has exercised enforcement discretion for e-cigarettes containing tobacco-derived nicotine, allowing them to remain on shelves while continuing to weigh their sale.


A buildup process


Jonathan Foulds, a public health science professor specializing in tobacco addiction at Penn State College of Medicine, told Pulse that some manufacturers of synthetic nicotine electronic cigarettes are undoubtedly bad. They exploit regulatory loopholes to stay on the market, with their products mainly targeting teenagers.


Given the tight timeline for compiling evidence, other manufacturers may not have had the opportunity to submit applications to the FDA. "To be honest, I'd be surprised if any of them got authorization," he told Pulse. "It's a lot of work that requires a great deal of information and proper research, which simply can't be completed in just two months." He noted that even electronic cigarette manufacturers that use tobacco-derived nicotine have been unable to meet the FDA's evidence standards, despite having had years to apply for marketing orders.


Statement:


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


This article does not represent the views of 2FIRSTS and 2FIRSTS cannot confirm the truthfulness or accuracy of the content. The purpose of translating this article is solely for industry discussions and research.


Due to limitations in translation ability, the translated article may not fully convey the intended meaning of the original text. Please refer to the original text for accuracy.


2FIRSTS maintains complete alignment with the Chinese government regarding any domestic, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, or foreign-related expressions or positions.


The compilation of information belongs to the original media and author, and in the event of copyright infringement, please contact us for deletion.


He added, "If they are to withdraw from the market during the review by the agency, it would be fine by me, but they should have enough time to tidy up their applications.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

FDA Appoints Former Tobacco Enforcement Deputy Jessica Zeller as Director as Agency Weighs PMTA Framework Changes
FDA Appoints Former Tobacco Enforcement Deputy Jessica Zeller as Director as Agency Weighs PMTA Framework Changes
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has named Jessica Zeller director of the Center for Tobacco Products' (CTP) Office of Compliance and Enforcement (OCE), effective November 1, 2026. Zeller, the office's inaugural deputy director, returns from medical device manufacturer Edwards Lifesciences with more than 20 years of regulatory and legal experience. The appointment follows CTP leadership changes and adjustments to tobacco regulation. Bret Koplow became permanent CTP director in September; the FDA revised enforcement priorities for unauthorized e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches in May and announced faster PMTA review procedures. On September 28, the agency said it would evaluate changes to the existing PMTA regulatory framework, including potential rulemaking to replace it.
FDA
Oct.20 by 2Firsts Perspectives
2Firsts Compliance Solutions Hosts PMTA Briefing on FDA Review Signals After JUUL2 Authorization
2Firsts Compliance Solutions Hosts PMTA Briefing on FDA Review Signals After JUUL2 Authorization
Following recent FDA authorizations for JUUL2 and ZYN ULTRA, 2Firsts Compliance Solutions held an online PMTA briefing on Sept. 4 to examine what the decisions may signal about review efficiency, scientific evidence and U.S. market access. Nearly 30 participants from brands, manufacturers, compliance service providers and investment firms joined the discussion.
2Firsts Events
Sep.06
German Tobacco Tax Revenue Falls 10.8% Through August as Tax-Paid Cigarette Volume Drops 12.6%
German Tobacco Tax Revenue Falls 10.8% Through August as Tax-Paid Cigarette Volume Drops 12.6%
Germany collected €9.789 billion in total tobacco tax revenue from January through August 2026, down 10.8% from a year earlier, according to the Federal Ministry of Finance. Germany's tobacco tax base covers not only cigarettes and fine-cut tobacco but also heated tobacco and vaping liquids taxed as tobacco substitutes. The German Association of the Tobacco Industry and Novel Products, or BVTE, citing federal statistical data, said tax-paid cigarette volume fell 12.6% to 40.6 billion sticks. BVTE is using the latest figures to argue against further tax increases planned from 2027 through 2030, while Germany's parliament is scheduled to hold a first reading of the bill on September 24.
Sep.23
U.S. Customs Plan to Require Foreign Export Declarations Could Deal ‘Devastating’ Blow to China’s Vape Exports, Logistics gl Expert Says
U.S. Customs Plan to Require Foreign Export Declarations Could Deal ‘Devastating’ Blow to China’s Vape Exports, Logistics gl Expert Says
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection proposal to collect foreign export declarations and other overseas customs documents could expose discrepancies in the value, classification and description of China-made vape shipments entering the United States. A veteran Chinese logistics professional told 2Firsts that the measure, if implemented, could undermine the all-inclusive shipping model used by some unauthorized vape exporters and push parts of the trade toward costlier underground channels. The risk extends beyond higher duties: accurately declared products may also be more readily identified as unauthorized e-cigarettes subject to FDA enforcement.
Special Report
Sep.07
JTI Liggett Puts U.S. Value Cigarette Brands in Spotlight at 2026 NACS Show
JTI Liggett Puts U.S. Value Cigarette Brands in Spotlight at 2026 NACS Show
At the 2026 NACS Show in Las Vegas, JTI Liggett highlighted its value-priced cigarette portfolio, including LD and Montego, following JT Group's acquisition of Vector Group. The company's U.S. business reported market share gains, with LD sales volume rising 32.6% in the first half of 2026. Meanwhile, Ploom was displayed separately at Altria's booth under an existing partnership. JTI Liggett booth staff told 2Firsts that the company had not yet launched nicotine pouch products in the United States.
EXPO
Oct.09
Italian Financial Police Seize 4.3 Million E-Cigarettes and Smoking Accessories; 28 Reported to Judicial Authorities Across Operations
Italian Financial Police Seize 4.3 Million E-Cigarettes and Smoking Accessories; 28 Reported to Judicial Authorities Across Operations
Italy's Guardia di Finanza announced on October 28 that officers in Latina province had seized approximately 4.3 million e-cigarettes and smoking accessories at an unauthorized warehouse in an operation involving restrictions on the possession and sale of tobacco-related products. Another 300,000 suspected counterfeit or unsafe items were confiscated during separate inspections, bringing total seizures across the operations to more than 4.6 million products. Twenty-eight people were reported to judicial authorities over suspected smuggling and counterfeiting offenses. Officials did not disclose separate vape quantities, the value of the merchandise or alleged violations associated with individual brands.
Enforcement
Oct.29