Trump wins U.S. election | Expert analysis on e-cigarette policy direction under the next administration

Nov.06.2024
Trump wins U.S. election | Expert analysis on e-cigarette policy direction under the next administration
Tom Beaudet, CEO of U.S. compliance firm Accorto, reviewed the effectiveness of past bipartisan policies and predicts that the FDA will improve its review process, allowing e-cigarette products to gain market approval more quickly in the future.

The results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election have been revealed, with Donald Trump elected as the new president. As the largest e-cigarette market in the world, the direction and regulatory policies of the U.S. market have significant global implications. How the new administration will regulate e-cigarettes and the future of the U.S. e-cigarette market are questions drawing global industry attention. As a leading global vaping technology media and think tank, 2Firsts quickly connected with U.S. compliance experts to provide the most authoritative analysis.

 

Tom Beaudet, CEO of U.S. compliance firm Accorto, shared with 2Firsts his thoughts on the regulatory approaches and actions of both the Trump administration and the current Democratic government on e-cigarettes. He emphasized that, during the current administration's four years, only 9 harm-reduction product applications were approved, despite millions of applications being submitted. He predicts that under the next administration, the FDA may gradually establish a clearer market entry pathway, helping companies that submit complete scientific data gain market access more quickly.

 

Trump wins U.S. election | Expert analysis on e-cigarette policy direction under the next administration
Accorto CEO Tom Beaudet | Image source: 2Firsts

 

Read the full perspective from Tom Beaudet:

 

  • Several weeks ago, ex President Donald Trump made the statement that he saved flavored vapes in 2020 and that, if he is elected again, he will save flavors again. However, it must be remembered that flavored closed pod systems were banned during the Trump presidency.

 

  • During the past 4 years, FDA has only approved 9 new harm reduction products, although applications have been submitted for millions of new products.  Although the vast majority of those applications were not complete with the scientific data needed for substantive review by the CTP Office of Science, several companies did submit high quality applications and are still awaiting a final decision.  Many question why we should expect anything different under another Democratic Party administration.

 

  • There is hope, regardless of who walks away victorious on November 5.  The US VTA, led by their president Tony Abud, has been aggressively working to educate members of Congress from both parties about the life saving potential of Nicotine Harm Reduction products and the importance of making changes at FDA to repair the currently broken review process.  Regardless of who wins tomorrow, we should expect to see improvements in the PMTA review process where applications who spend the money and time to submit high quality applications have a known and proven pathway to a Market Granted Order.  As more products are approved and we develop a pool of predicate products to reference, the known pathway to success will be come more and more established.

 


 

2Firsts will continue to bring the latest reports and interpretations on U.S. e-cigarette policies.

 

Disclaimer: This article represents only the views of the expert.

IQOS Enters Kantar BrandZ Global Top 100 for First Time, Valued at $36.6 Billion and Ranked No. 74
IQOS Enters Kantar BrandZ Global Top 100 for First Time, Valued at $36.6 Billion and Ranked No. 74
Philip Morris International’s IQOS has entered the Kantar BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands for the first time, ranking No. 74 with a brand value of $36.634 billion and becoming one of only three newcomers to the 2026 ranking. Kantar said the combined value of the Global Top 100 reached $13.1 trillion, up 22% year on year, while the threshold for entry rose to a record high. PMI says IQOS has more than 35 million users worldwide and surpassed $10 billion in annual net revenues within a decade of launch.
Sep.03
Kuwait Tightens Tobacco and Nicotine Rules, Bans Under-21 Sales and Extends Public Smoking Restrictions to Vapes and Heated Tobacco
Kuwait Tightens Tobacco and Nicotine Rules, Bans Under-21 Sales and Extends Public Smoking Restrictions to Vapes and Heated Tobacco
Kuwait has issued a comprehensive new regulatory framework covering tobacco, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and other nicotine products. Ministerial Decision No. 237 of 2026, signed by Health Minister Ahmad Al-Awadhi, will take effect on January 1, 2027. The rules prohibit sales to people under 21 and ban sales through websites, apps, social media and delivery services. E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products will also be treated as smoking in public and enclosed places where smoking is prohibited. Nicotine pouches and other oral nicotine products not registered as medicines are banned.
Regulations
Aug.17 by 2Firsts Perspectives
UK HMRC Urges Public to Report Suspicious Vape Shops in Crackdown on Tax Fraud, Money Laundering and Illicit Tobacco Sales
UK HMRC Urges Public to Report Suspicious Vape Shops in Crackdown on Tax Fraud, Money Laundering and Illicit Tobacco Sales
HM Revenue & Customs is urging members of the public to report vape shops, barber shops and other high-street businesses suspected of tax fraud, money laundering or other illegal activity, with informants not required to provide personal details. HMRC plans more than 30,000 interventions in 2026-27 targeting tax fraud, organised crime and illicit activity, including the sale of illegal vapes and tobacco. The push forms part of a broader UK effort to tackle organised crime on high streets, backed by a £30 million government enforcement programme.
Regulations
Aug.17 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Switzerland Tightens Vape Checks as Only 3 of 32 Tested Products Meet New Tobacco Rules
Switzerland Tightens Vape Checks as Only 3 of 32 Tested Products Meet New Tobacco Rules
According to Swiss media outlet Blick, local authorities are strengthening compliance checks on vape products, nicotine pouches and other tobacco-related products following the implementation of Switzerland’s revised Tobacco Products Act. A Basel laboratory tested 32 disposable vapes and e-liquids, with only three meeting regulatory requirements and 21 products banned from sale. Swiss authorities are also expanding retail inspections, laboratory testing and youth purchase checks to enforce the new tobacco and nicotine product rules.
Aug.12
STIIIZY Redesign Fails to Escape PAX Labs Patent Import Ban as Section 337 Case Also Involves China ALD
STIIIZY Redesign Fails to Escape PAX Labs Patent Import Ban as Section 337 Case Also Involves China ALD
U.S. Customs and Border Protection ruled that STIIIZY had not shown that the redesigned cannabis-vape products covered by its latest request fall outside an ITC limited exclusion order tied to PAX Labs patents. CBP accepted some of STIIIZY’s claim-construction and non-infringement arguments, but the company did not address two additional claims in the same patent. Earlier STIIIZY redesigned cartridges and certain associated components imported with them had received separate CBP clearance.
Sep.16
Product | KT&G Brings LOOP Nicotine Pouches to South Africa, Supporting ASF’s Expansion Across Africa
Product | KT&G Brings LOOP Nicotine Pouches to South Africa, Supporting ASF’s Expansion Across Africa
KT&G has introduced nicotine pouch brand LOOP in South Africa, expanding its modern oral nicotine portfolio. Developed by Swedish company Another Snus Factory (ASF), LOOP is a tobacco-free nicotine pouch brand. KT&G and U.S. tobacco company Altria previously participated in ASF’s strategic development, and the South Africa launch represents a further step in LOOP’s international expansion.
Aug.06