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.

PMI CEO Attends Opening of IQOS Global Flagship in Tokyo’s Ginza as 1,814 Limited ILUMA i PRIME Sets Launch
PMI CEO Attends Opening of IQOS Global Flagship in Tokyo’s Ginza as 1,814 Limited ILUMA i PRIME Sets Launch
IQOS opened its first global flagship, IQOS Flagship Ginza, in Tokyo on September 4, 2026, replacing the former IQOS Store Ginza after nearly a decade of operation. The new location expands conventional product retail into member lounges, digital experiences, art installations and brand programming. IQOS also launched a Ginza-exclusive IQOS ILUMA i PRIME set limited to 1,814 individually numbered units, priced at JPY11,980, or about US$77. PMI Sales Strategy Consultant Yuji M. later said on LinkedIn that more than 500 people had lined up from the night before the opening.
Sep.07
Philippines Mandates Safety Certification for Nicotine Pouches, Gives Industry 12 Months to Comply
Philippines Mandates Safety Certification for Nicotine Pouches, Gives Industry 12 Months to Comply
The Philippines Department of Trade and Industry has placed nicotine pouches under mandatory product certification through Department Administrative Order No. 26-07, Series of 2026. Nicotine pouches must obtain a Philippine Standard, or PS, license before they can be manufactured, imported, packed, distributed or sold in the country. The regime requires testing for nicotine content, pH and water activity, while packaging must disclose nicotine strength, ingredients, allergens, batch information, the PS certification mark and prescribed health warnings. Existing market participants have a 12-month transition period to comply.
Regulations
Oct.12
Product | HQD SiSA 80K Enters the U.S. Market With a Hookah-Inspired Approach to the High-Capacity Disposable Segment
Product | HQD SiSA 80K Enters the U.S. Market With a Hookah-Inspired Approach to the High-Capacity Disposable Segment
The HQD SiSA 80K Hookah Disposable Vape has appeared across U.S. and cross-border online retail channels. The device comes prefilled with 28ml of e-liquid, uses a 5% nicotine salt configuration and carries a brand claim of up to 80,000 puffs. Beyond puff count, the product differentiates itself through hookah-inspired features including adjustable airflow, a flowing-water sound effect and flavor options associated with traditional hookah consumption.
Aug.18
Product | JT Expands Vote-Winning EVO Cacao Mint Crystal to Nationwide Retail in Japan, Adds 22-Stick Limited Pack at Same Price
Product | JT Expands Vote-Winning EVO Cacao Mint Crystal to Nationwide Retail in Japan, Adds 22-Stick Limited Pack at Same Price
Japan Tobacco (JT) will expand EVO Cacao Mint Crystal from limited channels to nationwide retail in Japan from October 6, 2026. The Ploom tobacco stick ranked first in the brand's first consumer voting campaign for new tobacco-stick SKUs held earlier this year. JT will also introduce a limited 22-stick pack at the same JPY 620 price as the standard 20-stick pack. The capsule-format product combines menthol with sweet, bittersweet cacao notes and adds a berry nuance when the capsule is crushed.
Sep.09
Swedish-Founded Nicotine Pouch Retailer GotPouches Shifts to U.S.-Based Operations, Reaching Over 25 States
Swedish-Founded Nicotine Pouch Retailer GotPouches Shifts to U.S.-Based Operations, Reaching Over 25 States
Swedish-founded online nicotine pouch retailer GotPouches has completed the localization of its U.S. operations under UpNorth Retail LLC, with corporate operations in Franklin, Tennessee, domestic fulfillment from Nashville and U.S.-based customer support. The company says its catalog covers more than 20 nicotine pouch brands and it currently serves customers in more than 25 U.S. states.
Sep.18
Virginia Tobacco Retail Permit Takes Effect October 1, Covering Vapes as More Than 3,000 Businesses Apply in September
Virginia Tobacco Retail Permit Takes Effect October 1, Covering Vapes as More Than 3,000 Businesses Apply in September
Virginia's new retail tobacco permit system took effect October 1, requiring sellers of vapes, nicotine products and related devices and accessories to obtain a Retail Tobacco Permit for each business location. Virginia ABC said more than 3,000 businesses applied in September alone, creating a processing backlog. Qualifying applicants that filed before October 1 may temporarily operate under a Letter of Authorization. The new store-level permit also sits alongside Virginia's existing vape product directory, where sales of unlisted liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products can trigger civil penalties starting at $5,000.
Regulations
Oct.03