The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Tuesday it would allow tobacco company Philip Morris to advertise its tobacco consumption device IQOS to be advertised as reducing exposure to the chemicals contained in combustible cigarettes.
In declaring its decision that wraps up a nearly four-year review period, the FDA said scientific studies concluded that switching from cigarettes to the new system that heats tobacco rather than burning it is far more safer than continuing to smoke traditional cigarettes.
“Data submitted by the company shows that marketing these particular products with the authorized information could help addicted adult smokers transition away from combusted cigarettes and reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals, but only if they completely switch,” said FDA Director of the Center for Tobacco Products Mitch Zller in a statement.
Yet Zeller stayed true to form, as the FDA continues to hype hysteria over a fake epidemic in youth vaping, to urge potential users to ultimately quit smoking while warning adolescents to avoid the tobacco products.
“The FDA will closely monitor how IQOS is used by consumers to determine if these products meet this potential and do not cause increased use among youth. It is important to note that these products are not safe, so people, especially young people, who do not currently use tobacco products should not start using them or any other tobacco product.”
The FDA’s announcement, while opening new doors for smokers to escape the deadly habit, still bars Philip Morris from marketing its product as less harmful, as it says the science presented did not support that standard.
