1328 ET - Altria Chief Executive Billy Gifford said he hopes job cuts at the FDA will come with a review of the organization's processes to improve efficiency. Jim Jones, the FDA's deputy commissioner for human foods, resigned Monday, citing dozens of layoffs since Trump took office. In a conference presentation Wednesday, Gifford emphasized the need for FDA approval of e-vapor products as Altria aims to make its NJOY e-cigarette business profitable. The CEO said there is a significant demand for smoke-free alternatives, but Altria is struggling to meet it due to regulatory barriers. "In the absence of FDA authorization of flavored product choices, consumers have turned to the illicit flavored disposable market," Gifford said. (katherine.hamilton@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 19, 2025 13:28 ET (18:28 GMT)
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