Senators question Big Tobacco on lobbying for FDA policy shift

This development follows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recent announcement of a new "enforcement discretion" policy. This policy permits certain manufacturers to sell vapes and nicotine pouches without the legally required license, a move that could lead to hundreds of new products entering the market. The policy shift also occurred after political donations from both Reynolds and Altria in April and a meeting between President Donald Trump and tobacco executives in May.

The senators' letters, dated June 4, express concern that these lobbying efforts and donations enabled tobacco companies to weaken federal tobacco oversight. The companies have previously complained about the booming market for unlicensed devices, estimated to be worth approximately £7 billion ($9.41 billion), and have engaged in lobbying campaigns and legal actions. Following the new FDA policy, tobacco companies have already announced plans to launch new products.