FDA ‘should have acted sooner’ on e-cigarettes, agency head tells Congress

Speaking in front of a House subcommittee hearing yesterday, FDA acting Commissioner Ned Sharpless told lawmakers that the agency “should have acted sooner” to regulate the e-cigarette industry. He said the agency would “catch up,” including by releasing a guidance document in the coming weeks to “dramatically impact” the flavored e-cigarettes market. Among the actions under agency consideration: sending warning letters to companies marketing flavored vaping products and fining companies for failure to remove products from shelves.

Juul also made headlines ahead of the hearing: The e-cigarette giant said it plans to suspend advertising in the U.S., and that it won’t lobby against a proposed ban on flavored vaping products. CEO Kevin Burns also announced his resignation.