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E-cigarettes that look like USB sticks - that's what the Juul company wanted to score with
Photo: EVA HAMBACH / AFP
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the sale of all Juul-branded e-cigarettes.
The manufacturer Juul Labs did not meet safety standards, the FDA said.
The ban, effective immediately, is intended to ensure "that all e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems currently on the market meet our health standards," said FDA chief Robert Califf.
At times, Juul had sold like hot cakes with its innovative flavored e-cigarettes that looked like USB sticks.
But then the start-up came under heavy criticism for the offensive marketing of the products to younger target groups and was therefore also targeted by the supervisory authorities.
Juul had already stopped the sale of e-cigarettes with fruit and candy flavors, which were particularly popular with teenagers, in 2019, thus forestalling a ban.
The products have been blamed for an increase in e-cigarette use among young people.
Then, in January 2020, the FDA made the sale of e-cigarettes with flavors other than tobacco or menthol illegal for sale — unless specifically approved by the government.
In a two-year review, the agency came to the conclusion that Juul's entire product range posed too great a risk to public health.
Some study results give cause for concern - including possible damage to genetic material and potentially harmful chemicals leaking from the pods.
Among the products that will be phased out immediately are the Juul e-cigarette and pods, which currently contain five and three percent nicotine strengths in the United States.
Juul can still appeal the decision.
The agency was provided with "sufficient information and data" on the issues raised by the FDA, said Joe Murillo, the manager responsible for regulatory affairs.
sak/dpa/AFP
