FDA Loosens Rules on Vapes, Tanning Beds

The Food and Drug Administration recently authorized fruit-flavored vapes for adults and dropped a proposed ban on minors using tanning beds. These decisions represent a shift in agency priorities.

Former FDA commissioner Marty Makary initially resisted approving flavored vapes, but later reversed course. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s chief spokesperson resigned in protest over the vape decision.

The FDA also signaled it won’t prioritize enforcement against some unapproved vape and nicotine products. Mitch Zeller, a former FDA official, notes the agency cited a lack of resources as a reason for this change. Stanford professor Bonnie Halpern-Felsher explains FDA decisions influence young people’s views on product safety.

A recent study linked tanning bed use to a nearly threefold increase in melanoma risk, yet the FDA withdrew its proposal to ban minors from using them. The agency intends to reassess its approach, balancing public health with consumer access. The long-term effects of these policy changes remain unclear.