FDA Approves Vuse Vaping Products for the U.S.

In a first for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency has approved Vuse vaping products for sale in the U.S.

This is the first time the agency has approved an e-cigarette brand for sale in the country.

The agency announced Tuesday that it will allow a unit of British American Tobacco to keep selling its Vuse Solo e-cigarettes in the states.

While this is a big move, the approval doesn’t include some of the flavored products submitted by R.J. Reynolds Vapor under the Vuse Solo brand.

“The manufacturer’s data demonstrates its tobacco-flavored products could benefit addicted adult smokers who switch to these products – either completely or with a significant reduction in cigarette consumption – by reducing their exposure to harmful chemicals,” said Mitch Zeller, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products.

The FDA gained the power to regulate new tobacco products more than a decade ago in 2009.

In its decision, the FDA said it was aware that 10% of high school students who used e-cigarettes named Vuse as their usual brand in the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey.

Federal data in 2019 had found that more than 1-in-4 high school students had used an e-cigarette in the past 30 days, up from 11.7% just two years prior.

“The agency takes these data very seriously and considered risks to youth when reviewing these products,” the FDA said.

However, the agency believes the data suggests that many teen e-cigarette users begin with products flavored like candy, fruit or mint.

“These data reinforce the FDA’s decision to authorize the tobacco-flavored products because these products are less appealing to youth and authorizing these products may be beneficial for adult combusted cigarette users,” it said.

The approval of Vuse Solo was met with criticism by anti-tobacco groups including the American Lung Association (ALA) who said it was “dismayed” by the FDA’s decision.

“Completely removing high-nicotine products like Vuse from the market and ending the sale of all flavored e-cigarettes products, including menthol, is the clear path to ending the youth vaping epidemic,” the ALA said.

Disclaimer: We have no position in any of the companies mentioned and have not been compensated for this article.