US FDA chief Califf places ‘stressed’ and ‘challenged’ CTP under external review

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Robert Califf has authorised an external review of the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), citing a “series of challenges that have tested our regulatory frameworks and stressed the agency’s operations”.

Califf said the CTP faced significant challenges in navigating the complex policy issues as well as determining enforcement activities brought about by the increasing number of novel tobacco products on the market. The CTP will continue to review pending applications and take enforcement action as needed during the evaluation, he added.