The haze of smoke

Even as regulatory bodies approve vamping, the challenge of quitting smoking is not easy

- VAISHALI DAR

THIS OCTOBER, THE US FDA gave the nod to three companies to sell non-flavoured e-cigarettes. One of them is British American Tobacco for Vuse Solo e-cigarettes and tobacco flavoured pods. Vuse and Juul are among the most popular e-cigarettes brands.

A 2021 survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates an estimated 2.06 million US middle and high school students still use e-cigarettes.After a cloud on sale of e-cigarettes for many years, the health regulatory body FDA has recognised that these products can help adult smokers in reducing smoking associated risk and harm. The permission to allow sale has been welcomed by millions of vapers across the world who have switched from smoking to e-cigarettes as a harm reduction measure. The FDA has accepted the data submitted which demonstrates benefit to adult smokers who switch to vamping either completely or in significant measure by reducing their exposure to harmful chemicals. It has chosen to regulate the marketing, advertising and composition details of the e-cigarettes as opposed to banning their sale altogether. It is quite welcomed by many as appropriate to help adult smokers reduce harm as well as discourage children from using these products.