This week new FDA CTP Commissioner posted on X that

“It’s time to take action on illegal products sold in vape shops popping up in every neighborhood in America, harming our nation’s children”

In 2019, as panic over teen vaping hit its peak, the Trump administration initially proposed sweeping bans on flavored vape products. But after a public outcry from millions of adult vapers, small business owners, and harm reduction advocates, President Trump pivoted—promising to protect flavored vaping options for adults while addressing youth access through enforcement, not prohibition.

Fast forward to today, and that promise feels like a distant memory.

Despite mounting scientific Beweis supporting vaping as a far safer alternative to combustible cigarettes, the FDA continues to deny or delay authorization of nearly every flavored product. Meanwhile, they offer little clarity on how companies can successfully navigate the PMTA (Premarket Tobacco Product Application) process. Even worse, the agency often conflates youth experimentation with long-term use, ignoring data that shows dramatic declines in teen vaping since 2019.

Still the #1 Killer—and Still Ignored

Let’s be clear: smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. It kills nearly half a million Americans every year. Yet instead of expanding access to less harmful alternatives, the FDA seems determined to restrict them—especially flavored options that are critical for adult smokers trying to switch.

This zero-tolerance, prohibition-style approach doesn’t just fail to address smoking—it actively makes things worse. Adults are pushed toward the illicit market, where products are unregulated, untested, and often unsafe. Legitimate vape shops and manufacturers trying to comply with the rules are punished, while bad actors thrive in the shadows.

The Data Is Clear—So Why Isn’t the Policy?

Study after study confirms that vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking. Public health agencies in the UK and New Zealand actively recommend it as a tool for smoking cessation. But in the U.S., the FDA’s hesitance and hostility continue to hold back progress.

The solution isn’t complicated: approve products that meet safety standards, focus enforcement on bad actors, and stop treating all nicotine use as equal. Adult smokers deserve access to the tools that help them quit—and flavors are part of that equation.

A Call to Action

The FDA’s continued war on flavored vaping contradicts the science, betrays a public health opportunity, and breaks the promise made to millions of Americans who turned to vaping to quit smoking. It’s time for a shift—not just in policy, but in perspective.

Public health should be about reducing harm, not fueling moral panic.

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