British American Tobacco PLC (LON:BATS) said it has submitted one brand application in line with the new vaping regulations set by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The FTSE 100-listed cigarette maker said it will make further applications for the rest of its vapour portfolio ahead of the May 2020 deadline through its North Carolina-based subsidiary Reynolds American Inc. (RAI).
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The FDA announced on Thursday a ban on cartridge-based vaping devices, including electronic cigarettes with mint, fruit and dessert flavours, excluding menthol or tobacco flavouring.
The regulation does not apply to ‘open systems’, which have to be manually filled with liquid by the user. The FDA previously set out May 2020 as a deadline for companies to submit their products.
Washington is tightening regulations around vaping to make it less appealing to kids, while there is widespread concern over the safety of such products for adult consumers as well.
In a statement on Friday, BAT chief executive Jack Bowles said the firm's management are “confident” all RAI’s products will comply to the new rules.
“We will continue to work with the US FDA throughout the implementation of this new regulatory framework to make sure consumers have access to quality-assured products whilst doing our utmost to ensure that vaping remains positioned as a credible option for smokers looking for an alternative to tobacco,” he added.