The FDA has created a downloadable one-page list of vaping products the agency has authorized for sale in the United States. The list, says the agency, is intended for “tobacco retailers looking for information on what e-cigarettes are legal to sell.” In a tweet describing the list, the FDA said that, “As of August 2023, FDA has authorized 23 tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes and devices.”
But that’s not exactly true. First, most of the 23 “e-cigarettes and devices” (huh?) are refills—12 to be precise. There are also multiple versions of some of the authorized devices, with minor differences that have no effect on the user experience. So, there are two Vuse Vibes, two Vuse Ciros, and two NJOY Dailys. Finally, one of the devices isn’t an e-cigarette at all.
That’s right. The Logic Vapeleaf Tobacco Vapor System and its authorized refills are heated tobacco products (HTPs—also known as heat-not-burn products) that vaporize a solid capsule refill that contains real tobacco. There’s nothing wrong with the FDA granting marketing authorization for HTPs, but if the agency believes HTP devices are e-cigarettes, why not also add Philip Morris International’s IQOS HTP device and refills to the authorized “e-cigarette” list?
In 2019, the FDA authorized PMI’s original IQOS device under the premarket tobacco application (PMTA) pathway, and later as a modified risk tobacco product (MRTP). The agency authorized three different IQOS HeatSticks refills in 2019, including two menthol-flavored versions. In 2021, the FDA authorized an updated version of the IQOS device, and earlier this year the FDA gave the green light to three additional tobacco-flavored HeatSticks. That adds up to eight authorized IQOS products.
The IQOS authorizations would add eight more “e-cigarettes and devices” to the agency’s impressive list, so why leave them out? It can’t be because HTP products aren’t really e-cigarettes. After all, the FDA put the Logic Vapeleaf HTP products on its list.
Is it because the FDA wants to downplay its authorization of low-risk IQOS products in menthol flavors, since FDA Commissioner Robert Califf and Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) Director Brian King have made the prohibition of menthol a cornerstone of their confused (and confusing) war on low-risk nicotine products?
Or is it because King and Califf don’t want to remind their friends in tobacco control that the agency has given the green light to so many IQOS SKUs? There are more FDA-authorized IQOS products than all of the available e-liquid-based vaping devices given marketing permission by the agency.
In fact, since King took over at the CTP in July 2022, the regulatory agency hasn’t authorized a single e-liquid-based vaping product—just more IQOS refills.
It has, however, lost three products from the list. R.J. Reynolds has stopped selling its unpopular Vuse Ciro device (and refills), making the FDA’s three Ciro marketing granted orders (MGOs) pretty much moot. The Ciro was so commercially insignificant that RJR stopped appealing an FDA marketing denial order (MDO) for Ciro menthol refills—a fact the agency was fully aware of when it created its list.
So let’s make a real “FDA authorized e-cigarettes” list. We’re going to ignore the three Logic Vapeleaf products, because they’re not e-cigarettes. Then we’ll eliminate duplicate device authorizations (the two Vuse Vibe Power Units are virtually identical), and authorizations for products no longer sold (bye, Ciro).
Here’s the real FDA-authorized (and available) e-cigarette list:
That adds up to six devices (or seven, if you insist on counting the barely different NJOY Dailys separately), with nothing to put in them except artificial tobacco flavors.
The FDA has refused to consider authorizing any vaping product people enjoy using—including all the vapes used by people to replace deadly combustible cigarettes.
Here’s a list of vaping products the agency hasn’t authorized:
Remember, while millions of independent vape industry products have been denied authorization by the FDA, many others are being disputed in federal courts. And hundreds more PMTAs remain under FDA review, with no decision yet made.
While those products have not been specifically authorized for sale, the FDA has indicated by words and actions that it will not enforce against them while their PMTAs or legal challenges are pending. Ultimately, FDA’s list of authorized products is meaningless unless the agency decides to take action against thousands of products with uncertain authorization status. As it stands now, unauthorized does not necessarily mean illegal.
Vaping is 95% safer than a cigarette but the government wants to kill us , keep us sick from cigarettes, and continue to be paid by big tobacco. I should be free to vape if I want to. Since I quit smoking the worst cigarette on the market, Newport, and started vaping , I can breathe, my sinus issues are gone, I can run and play with my kids, I don’t cough ever.. So don’t say this is the good fight when a Newport has 7000 chemicals, 37% nicotine when a vape has 5% nicotine and 30 chemicals.. Keep putting… Read more »
Keep fighting the good fight Jim. Thanks for being there
Phillip Morris is behind the vape ban. Its a shame. Let us vape if we want to. Also, if vapes are banned, then also ban cigarettes
Philip Morris (now Altria) also helped write the Tobacco Control Act that created the FDA Center for Tobacco Products. So, yeah, PM is behind just about everything.
Well the Louisiana government banned almost all sales of vape eliquid except the ones approved by the FDA ( 6 vape e- juice brands that do not sell very well). This is Outrageous. All SMALL BUSINESS VAPE SHOPS THAT DO NOT SELL SMOKING PRODUCTS HAVE SHUT DOWN. THIS IS WRONG AND OUR VOICES WILL NOT BE HEARD BY THE CORRUPT LOUISIANA GOVERNMENT. I’ve tried to order online but the websites have enacted a Louisiana excise tax that cost more than the juice itself. All they are doing is trying to force hard working AMERICANS to start smoking again, but I… Read more »
Yes, we covered these “PMTA-only” laws in September. Oklahoma and Alabama passed similar laws, which were lobbied for by the tobacco industry.