WASHINGTON (TNND) — Juul has won government authorization to continue selling its e-cigarettes on the U.S. market after being blamed in recent years for starting the teen vaping trend.

"Following rigorous evaluation of the data, FDA decided that an MGO for the JUUL System was 'appropriate for the protection of public health' – the standard required by statute for authorization," Juul said in a statement.

The FDA decision applies to both tobacco- and menthol-flavored versions of the reusable product, which works with nicotine-filled cartridges sold in two different strengths. Juul previously discontinued several fruit and candy flavors that helped drive its popularity but were favored by teens.

Juul will be one of only two U.S. companies authorized to sell menthol-flavored vapes, which many adults prefer to tobacco flavor.

The FDA ordered the company to remove its products from the market in June 2022, saying that the "applications lacked sufficient evidence regarding the toxicological profile of the products to demonstrate that marketing of the products would be appropriate for the protection of the public health."

In 2024, the FDA reversed course and lifted the ban pending further scientific review.

A news release noted that there wasn't "sufficient evidence regarding the toxicological profile of the products to demonstrate that the marketing of the products met the public health standard required by law."

To meet FDA requirements, companies must show that their e-cigarettes benefit public health. In practice, that means proving that adult smokers who use them are likely to quit or reduce their smoking, while teens are unlikely to get hooked on them.

The company faced several lawsuits in 2022 brought by families of Juul users, school districts, city governments and Native American tribes, and ultimately paid $1.7 billion to settle them.

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Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.