None of this happens in a vacuum. The Wall Street Journal notes that flavored vapes are likely to be a "flashpoint" in Dr. Heidi Overton's FDA commissioner confirmation hearing — which took place on September 24.

Overton's policy direction on flavored products and PMTA processing speed will shape how the accelerated authorization plan actually gets implemented. If confirmed, she'll be the one overseeing the rule revisions, the review speed targets, and the enforcement priorities.

For a detailed look at Overton's background and what her confirmation could mean, see our full analysis of the new FDA commissioner and vaping's future.