The CDC Foundation Revealed The Market Share Of E-cigarettes Authorized By The FDA: 34 Products Accounted For 13.7%

The CDC Foundation revealed the market share of e-cigarettes authorized by the FDA: 34 products accounted for 13.7%

A report jointly released by two US agencies showed that from 2019 to 2023, the sales of e-cigarettes in the United States increased by 47%, among which the sales of disposable e-cigarettes surged by 500%. At the same time, the 34 products authorized by the FDA accounted for 13.7% of the total sales in US retail stores.

On November 21, a report released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation and the Truth Initiative showed that the sales of e-cigarettes in US retail stores increased by 47% from 2019 to 2023. Among them, flavored e-cigarettes such as fruit, candy, mint, menthol and desserts accounted for more than 80% of the total sales.

In Massachusetts, due to sales restrictions and multiple law enforcement measures, the sales of flavored e-cigarettes in physical stores decreased by more than 98%.

The report, titled "Monitoring US E-cigarette Trends: Urgent Action to Protect Youth from Flavored E-cigarettes", pointed out that the most effective policy to restrict the sale of flavored e-cigarettes is to clearly define the product, include comprehensive flavored tobacco restrictions, combine community and retailer education, and be supported by law enforcement.

Highlights of the report include:

Disposable e-cigarette sales surge: Disposable e-cigarette sales increased by more than 500% between 2019 and 2023, and disposable e-cigarettes have become the most common type of device used by young people;

Demand for flavoring surges: In 2024, 1.63 million teens reported using e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, and nearly 90% of users consumed one of the many flavored products;

Increase in sales of menthol and cool flavors: Sales of menthol e-cigarettes increased by more than 175%. Sales of products labeled "refreshing" (advertised as flavor-free but containing menthol or other synthetic coolants) or other unflavored cool products (often promoted as "naked" or "unflavored") increased by 872% between 2020 and 2023;

Unauthorized products proliferate: As of March 2024, 34 FDA-authorized products accounted for 13.7% of total sales in physical retail stores in the United States;

Nicotine content increases: Disposable e-cigarettes may contain nicotine levels similar to several packs of cigarettes, and the average nicotine concentration increased by 294% over five years. The increase in sales of high-concentration e-cigarettes coincides with an increase in the percentage of teens who report regular or daily e-cigarette use. In 2024, about 30% of high school e-cigarette users report daily use.

Judy Monroe, CEO of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said, "The increase in e-cigarette sales, especially those with flavors and graphics that appeal to youth, is deeply concerning, especially as manufacturers continue to launch e-cigarette products with gamified designs and higher nicotine content. However, data from Massachusetts, California, and New York show that comprehensive policies can effectively curb youth e-cigarette use. This report highlights the urgency of adopting similar measures to protect young people from the risks of e-cigarette use." Kathy Crosby, CEO of the Truth Initiative, said, "In recent years, e-cigarette sales have surged, and new products have emerged, many of which are designed to attract youth through increasingly high nicotine content. Today's e-cigarettes are popular in a range of tempting flavors and designs. They are larger, more powerful and cheaper than previous devices, which only increases their appeal. Even more worrying is that more than 80% of e-cigarettes are sold illegally. While law enforcement is critical to ending the youth e-cigarette crisis, retailers must also take responsibility to protect young customers and remove all illegal products."