— This is the script of CNBC's news report for China's CCTV on October 5, 2018, Friday.
The FDA said this spot check was amid at investigating JUUL's sales and marketing campaign, JUUL is one of the most popular e-cigarette in North America, on the market shares front, JUUL has an overwhelming growing trend.
The global e-cigarette market reached $10.24 dollars in 2017, and it is estimated to rise to $16.85 dollars in 2023, according to the data from Mordor Intelligence.
JUUL's sales jumped incredible in 2017, with 515%, its global share increased from 2% in 2016 to 13% in 2017, at the same time, JUUL became the largest e-cigarette producer in the U.S., accounting for nearly 30% of sales.
Such popularity makes the FDA worried that the promotion and popularity of e-cigarettes will make more teens addicted, in fact, while smoking rates in the United States have fallen to record lows, the boom in e-cigarettes has fueled a rapid increase in nicotine use among teens.
Experts think E-cigarettes that offer flavors like cream cucumber and mango can make teens more addicted without realizing the nicotine content.
In teens from 13 to 18 years old, nearly one third of them admitted to smoking e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, among them, the number of high school students jumped about 75% compared to that last year, according to dare from Mercury Analytics.
The FDA also worried that the liquid in e-cigarette can be replace with a liquid containing cannabis, that fuels the worries over the abuse of e-cigarette in teens. And reports show that researchers carried out a related investigation in 20 thousands teens over 12 years old in the U.S., the result shows 9% respondents smoked cannabis with e-cigarettes, so those worries adding the increase in e-cigarettes sales,
Making FDA decided to tighten industrial regulation for now. Several weeks ago, the FDA warned the entities and e-commerce who sale e-cigarettes, asking them to respond within 60 days and make a reliable plan that can prevent the teens from using e-cigarette, or they will face the risk of removing products from shelves. This kind of hard stance shows the FDA's determination of hitting the teens smoke e-cigarette.
Actually, e-cigarette was introduced into the market as a way of kicking smoking habit for adults, however, its use in teens increasing significantly, making the FDA rules the move of illegally resell and buy under false names etc., and some e-cigarette offers are possible to face civil or criminal charges.
We will keep an eye on this issue.