The FDA’s Commissioner, Robert Califf, faced a challenging hearing before the House Oversight Committee, raising questions about the agency’s approach to reducing smoking rates and its handling of tobacco harm reduction (THR) methods. Lawmakers scrutinized the FDA’s regulatory actions, particularly its oversight of e-cigarettes and other nicotine products.
In his opening remarks for the hearing, House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) pointed out that, through “our investigation of tobacco products regulations, we learned the FDA is failing to consistently and effectively regulate tobacco products.”
He continued, “According to the Reagan-Udall Foundation, the FDA has been ‘reactive and overwhelmed’ in its tobacco products regulation. The FDA has delayed review of applications for products that can reduce harm for many Americans.”
“Further, the FDA’s failure to regulate has allowed unsafe and illicit products to proliferate,” Comer added. “In fact, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit slammed the FDA for sending ‘manufacturers of flavored e-cigarette products on a wild goose chase.’”
“Meanwhile, the FDA is also failing to prevent illicit flavored tobacco products from China entering the country and harming Americans. The FDA is not implementing enforcement actions to address illicit flavored tobacco products in stores across the country,” he stated.
Americans love Chinese vapes.
I’m with a group conducting research on nicotine products used in DC.
100% of the vapes collected during a neighborhood canvas were manufactured in China.
The FDA has only approved 20-30 vape devices.
The illicit vape market is flourishing. pic.twitter.com/mqaX71Ai3u
— Jon Michael Raasch (@JMRaasch) March 27, 2024
One of the central issues debated during the hearing was the FDA’s reluctance to fully embrace THR strategies, which aim to mitigate the health risks associated with smoking by encouraging individuals to reduce their tobacco consumption or switch to less harmful alternatives. Despite mounting evidence supporting the efficacy of THR, the FDA has been criticized for its cautious approach in endorsing these methods.
During the hearing, Califf was pressed on various aspects of the FDA’s policies regarding tobacco products. Lawmakers raised concerns about the agency’s approval process for e-cigarettes, with accusations of allowing illegal Chinese products to remain on the market while delaying approval for potentially safer alternatives.
Comer further grilled Califf over the FDA “enabling these Chinese products” later on in the hearing.
Califf emphasized the need to balance the potential benefits of THR products with the risks, particularly concerning youth usage.
The debate also delved into the terminology used to describe youth vaping trends, with Rep. Rashida Tlaib questioning whether the situation constituted an “epidemic.” Califf acknowledged the prevalence of youth vaping but stopped short of labeling it as such.
Yesterday, @DrCaliff_FDA repeated almost every anti-vaping trope there is while testifying before the @GOPoversight committee. @JamesComer and several of his colleagues asked tough questions, giving us a chance to scrutinize Califf's underwhelming answers. THREAD 🧵 https://t.co/QFyEmFLcH8
— American Vapor Manufacturers (@VaporAmerican) April 12, 2024
Furthermore, the FDA’s budget requests and funding mechanisms came under scrutiny, with concerns raised about the agency’s evolving stance on the risk continuum of tobacco products. Critics accused the FDA of inconsistency in its approach, particularly regarding the authorization of e-cigarette products for retail sale.
The hearing underscored the need for congressional intervention to address the FDA’s handling of tobacco regulation and ensure alignment with its stated goal of reducing tobacco-related harm.
