A big target of government regulators, the popular e-cigarette brand spent $560,000 on lobbying from this past July to the end of September.
Juul Labs has increased its spending on lobbying efforts by 167% in the third quarter from the previous quarter as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Congress continue to scrutinize the leading e-cigarette manufacturer over the popularity of its product with teenagers, according to a USA TODAY report.
The maker of the most popular e-cigarette on the market spent $560,000 on lobbying from this past July to the end of September, according to a disclosure form released Oct. 23. The company initially reported spending almost $1.2 million on lobbying in the third quarter, but it filed an amendment to correct that number, Juul Labs spokeswoman Victoria Davis told USA TODAY.
According to a filing, the company’s expenditure total for the second quarter was $210,000.
The increase in spending follows a period of heightened regulatory focus on the e-cigarette industry. Last month, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb declared youth vaping an “epidemic,” and said the agency will halt sales of flavored electronic cigarettes if the major manufacturers can’t prove they are doing enough to keep them out of the hands of children and teens.
Juul uses nicotine salts, which exist in tobacco and contain a higher concentration of nicotine than many liquids in other e-cigarette brands.
However, despite Juul’s popularity with younger consumer, Juul Labs created its product to wean adult smokers off traditional cigarettes, and the company condemns youth usage.
“We are focused on engaging with FDA, lawmakers, regulators, public health officials and advocates to drive awareness of our mission to improve the lives of the world’s one billion smokers and to combat underage use so we keep JUUL out of the hands of young people,” Davis said in a statement.
Earlier this year, the FDA announced it was investigating the marketing strategies and impact of several vaping products, including Juul, which enough enjoys a majority share of the e-cigarette market.
