Flavored e-cigarettes head to the U.S. Supreme Court

Whether the FDA overlooks the harm reduction potential of flavored e-cigarettes may soon be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Global Action to End Smoking has filed an amicus curiae brief in a case regarding the FDA’s regulation of e-cigarettes. The brief argues that the FDA’s practical ban on flavored e-cigarettes disregards their potential to reduce harm for adult smokers. The organization emphasizes the need for the FDA to correctly apply public health standards, ensuring that adults have access to less harmful smoking alternatives.

“It will be interesting to see if the FDA’s restrictive stance is considered a barrier to adults seeking safer products to quit smoking,” said Markus Lindblad, Head Of Communications at Pouch Patrol.

Global Action highlights that flavored e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes and assist smokers in transitioning to safer alternatives.

“FDA must consider the real-world consequences of a flavor ban. Millions of smokers rely on national and international authorities for accurate guidance. A balanced policy is necessary to protect public health, preventing youth access to nicotine while not restricting adults from safer alternatives to deadly cigarettes,” Lindblad added.

Global Action, an independent non-profit organization, has previously received funding from the tobacco industry but adopted a policy in 2023 to no longer accept such funds. The organization focuses on ending the use of combustible tobacco, the leading preventable cause of death globally. Their CEO, Cliff Douglas, has a long career fighting against smoking, engaging in lawsuits against the tobacco industry, and advising public health authorities.