White House Pushes Flavored E-Cigarettes, FDA Opposes

\r\n
[Financial News] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reportedly pushing back against the White House's move to expand the launch of domestically made flavored e-cigarettes. 
According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 17th local time, the White House is seeking to allow e-cigarette products with flavors such as menthol, mango and blueberry, saying they could help adult smokers quit.
U.S. e-cigarette maker Glas has spent the past five years seeking FDA approval for its devices and flavoring products, and some had expected approval to be imminent.
However, the approval process has been halted after FDA Commissioner Marty Makary voiced opposition.
FDA reviewers had recommended approval for Glas's flavored products, but final authorization was put on hold after Makary left an internal memo in February saying that more time was needed to evaluate tobacco flavorings.
Makary is said to have been concerned about the public health impact of approving flavored e-cigarettes.
Even so, the White House remains positive about expanding flavored products.
White House spokesperson Kush Desai emphasized, "The White House and the FDA are fully aligned on expanding access to flavored e-cigarettes for adults only."
He added, "The Biden administration completely ignored research showing that these products are beneficial for adults trying to quit smoking. The Trump administration will continue working to correct these misguided policy decisions."
President Donald John Trump had pledged during the election campaign to protect the e-cigarette industry.
Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also said in Congress the previous day that he was "making every effort to bring American-made e-cigarettes to market."
Flavored e-cigarettes have long been a source of controversy in the United States.
As teen e-cigarette use surged, the U.S. government in 2020 allowed no flavored products other than menthol- and tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes.
mkchang@fnnews.com Jang Min-kwon Reporter