US OKs 'heat-not burn' tobacco device

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the sale of a "heat-not-burn" tobacco device, but warned it had not declared it safe to use.

IQOS is manufactured by Philip Morris International and differs from e-cigarettes, because it uses tobacco rather than flavored liquid nicotine. The new device is designed to heat disposable tobacco sticks to produce a nicotine-rich aerosol that provides the taste of tobacco without releasing the dangerous chemicals created by lighting traditional cigarettes.

"While the authorization of new tobacco products doesn't mean they are safe, the review process makes certain that the marketing of the products is appropriate for the protection of the public health, taking into account the risks and benefits to the population as a whole," said Mitch Zeller, director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products.