The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, for its acronym in English) banned this Thursday the sale of electronic cigarettes and other products from the Juul company, also ordering the withdrawal of those that are already on the market in the US.
Affected products include the Juul electronic device, Virginia tobacco-flavored pods with 5% and 3% nicotine strengths;
and menthol-flavored capsules with 5% and 3% nicotine concentrations.
The FDA believes that these products
"have played a disproportionate role in the rise of youth tobacco use."
"This is yet another sign of the FDA's commitment to ensuring that all e-cigarette products and electronic nicotine delivery systems marketed to consumers meet our public health standards," said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf.
The order does not prevent consumers from owning or using Juul products.
So far, the FDA has found no evidence that e-cigarettes or pods pose an immediate health threat.
However, the agency said there was "insufficient and conflicting data" on the toxicity of the products and on "potentially harmful chemicals leaching from the company's proprietary e-liquid pods."
"The FDA is tasked with ensuring that tobacco products sold in this country meet the standard set by law, but the onus of proving that a product meets those standards ultimately rests on the shoulders of the company. Michele Mital, acting director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products, said in a statement.
The move is part of a broader effort by the FDA to subject the multibillion-dollar vaping industry to scientific scrutiny after years of regulatory delays.
Parents, politicians and anti-tobacco advocates wanted to ban these devices, which many blame for the rise in underage smoking.
Their supporters claim that they can help smokers cut back on regular cigarettes.