FDA grants first-time authorization to e-cigarette company

The Food and Drug Administration made history Tuesday following its announcement that it was granting authorization to an e-cigarette company to sell its products.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the FDA granted authorization to the tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds to sell three of its Vuse Solo vape products in the U.S., explaining that these products can help adult smokers quit using deadly combustible tobacco products.

This is the first time the health organization has explicitly granted permission to a company to sell a nicotine-based product in the U.S.

The decision comes as the FDA faced a court deadline in which it conducted a vast survey of more than a million e-cigarettes in order to determine which ones should be allowed to remain on the market.

The FDA rejected 10 different flavors proposed by Vuse Solo and only approved tobacco-flavored vape cartridges. 

According to the Associated Press, the agency concluded based on new government data that e-cigarettes are much less harmful than traditional cigarettes. 

Director of the FDA's tobacco center, Mitch Zeller, issued a statement saying that the FDA's decision was “an important step“ in helping regulate tobacco products, as well as keeping the public healthy.

"The manufacturer's data demonstrates its tobacco-flavored products could benefit addicted adult smokers who switch to these products — either completely or with a significant reduction in cigarette consumption," Zeller continued.

The FDA did go on to stress that the agency is nots endorsing or promoting nicotine products. "All tobacco products are harmful and addictive and those who do not use tobacco products should not start," the agency concluded.