A woman walks in front of a smoke shop on June 23, 2022 in New York.
John Smith | View Press | Corbis News | Getty Images
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the sale of Juul’s e-cigarettes and refill cartridges in tobacco and menthol flavors, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.
The decision follows wider expectations in the industry that the Trump administration would ease regulatory hurdles for launching new vapes and other smoking alternatives.
Some companies have seen FDA applications for new nicotine products languish for years or, like Juul, faced rejections that were challenged in court.
The FDA in 2022 had banned Juul’s four varieties of tobacco and menthol-flavored pods and the e-cigarette device after it concluded that the company failed to show that sale of these products would be appropriate for public health.
The ban was stayed a month later after an appeal by the company.
The FDA has been criticized by companies and some lawmakers for slow product authorizations and for failing to address the widespread trade in unauthorized products. The agency has said it needs more resources to tackle these challenges.
The FDA did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the approval.
