Special Feature | Unveiling Potential Next Leader of the US Public Health System: Electronic Cigarette Regulatory Reform May Accelerate

Special Feature | Unveiling Potential Next Leader of the US Public Health System: Electronic Cigarette Regulatory Reform May Accelerate

With Trump winning the presidential election, Robert Kennedy Jr. was predicted by the media to take charge of the US public health system in the new administration. His attitude towards the FDA system and the tobacco industry will profoundly influence the direction of US e-cigarette policies.

Special statement:
[1] This article aims to explore the policy direction of electronic cigarette regulators in the United States. The collection and analysis of information on relevant political figures is limited to their statements in the field of electronic cigarette regulation.
[2] This article does not involve any political information, views, or comments in the non electronic cigarette field.
[3] The media materials cited in this article only represent the views of the source media. The citation of relevant information in this article is limited to research on electronic cigarette regulation and does not represent any comments on the political tendencies and positions of any media.

On November 6, 2024, US time, Trump won the election and will once again become the President of the United States. Trump's victory was inseparable from his powerful campaign team, and among them, besides celebrity entrepreneurs like Elon Musk, there was also a notable political star - Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a member of the Kennedy family.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. | Source: Kennedy Social Media Account

According to media reports in the United States, Trump's victory in the presidential election has also made Kennedy the winner of this election, and he is highly likely to play a role in the healthcare sector of the Trump administration. (Trump's win in the presidential race sets Kennedy up as a winner himself, who is likely to play some kind of role in health care for the Trump administration.)

 

Earlier, CNN reported that Robert Kennedy Jr. told his supporters that Trump promised to appoint him to "control" several public health agencies, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), if he wins the election. Once the above predictions come true, it also means that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be under Kennedy's jurisdiction, and the FDA is one of the main regulatory agencies for electronic cigarettes in the United States.

 

Kennedy was born into the influential Kennedy family in the United States. His father, Robert Kennedy, was a member of Congress, and his uncle, John F. Kennedy, was one of the most famous former presidents in American history. According to The New York Times, Trump encouraged Kennedy to go wild on health. And he also told the media this week that there are "extra departments" within the FDA that "have to go.

 

From this, it can be seen that both newly elected President Trump and Kennedy intend to launch a transformation in the US healthcare system. So, will this change also cover the US electronic cigarette regulatory system represented by PMTA? 2Firsts has compiled its past statements in order to speculate on its ideas and tendencies in the field of tobacco regulation.

 

Kennedy: FDA focuses more on the interests of large pharmaceutical and food companies rather than public health

The New York Times referred to Kennedy as a "foe of drug makers and regulators" in its report, as he had previously declared his intention to overturn the country's agricultural system and public health bureaucracy, and carry out large-scale reforms to the entire regulatory system.

On October 9th, Kennedy posted a video on his Facebook account criticizing the FDA for failing to fulfill its duties. He pointed out that the FDA is more focused on safeguarding the interests of large pharmaceutical and food companies rather than the interests of the public. The public health expenditure in the United States is high, but its effectiveness is not satisfactory among developed countries. Therefore, he is committed to eradicating corruption within the FDA to make America healthier. Kennedy also established the Political Action Committee under the name "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA).

Kennedy criticized the FDA in a video posted on his Facebook account | Image source: Facebook

On November 7th, Kennedy also expressed his dissatisfaction with the FDA during an interview with MSNBC (Microsoft National Broadcasting Company). He bluntly stated, "In certain categories... some entire departments, such as the FDA's nutrition department... must be disbanded because they have not fulfilled their responsibilities. They have not protected our children

Kennedy interviewed by MSNBC | Source: MSNBC

Moreover, Kennedy has repeatedly publicly expressed his concern for the public health situation in the United States. Media reports indicate that Kennedy's worldview is reflected in his two sentences: "For most healthcare systems, there is nothing more profitable than a sick child" and "Public health institutions have become puppets of the industry they should regulate.

Post on the attraction of new tobacco to minors

Kennedy also paid attention to new types of tobacco. As early as March 2021, Kennedy shared a dynamic on Facebook about VELO, a nicotine bag brand under British American Tobacco (BAT), with the following text:

 

British American Tobacco claims that their newly launched heated tobacco and nicotine in the mouth products are aimed at adult smokers, but public health officials point out that the company's marketing campaign is clearly aimed at attracting young people

Kennedy once reposted updates about Velo on Facebook | Image source: Facebook

Prediction: Kennedy takes charge of the healthcare system, leading to significant changes in the regulation of electronic cigarettes in the United States

 

After Trump won the election, the top two firsts immediately connected with Tom Beaudet, CEO of American compliance company Accor, to interpret the new government's move on e-cigarette regulation. Tom stated that the current government has only approved 9 new applications for harm reduction products within four years, yet the number of applications submitted has reached millions. He predicts that during the next government term, the FDA may gradually establish a clear market access pathway, thereby helping companies that have submitted complete scientific data to obtain market access more quickly.

 

It remains to be seen whether Kennedy will ultimately take charge of the US healthcare system and the reform measures that will be taken in the future. But judging from his past statements about the FDA system and the tobacco industry, it is necessary for him to carry out a sweeping reform. The protection of minors and the regulation of large tobacco companies are likely to be among their key concerns. When it comes to this election, the Republican Party controls both houses of Congress, and Trump has no concerns about re-election (the maximum term for a US president is two). It is expected that if Kennedy can gain Trump's support and trust, his reform efforts will be unprecedented.

 

Two to two Firsts will continue to track and report on the regulatory and market trends of electronic cigarettes in the United States.