The Food and Drug Administration has granted permission for Juul to continue selling its e-cigarettes, offering some reprieve to the embattled company that has faced significant challenges in recent years due to its role in fueling youth vaping addiction,

Thursday’s authorization, following a multiyear FDA review, has come under scrutiny, including from Yolanda Richardson, president and CEO of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, who called it a “big step” backward for preventing youth e-cigarette use.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the sale of Juul Labs' e-cigarette device and refill cartridges in tobacco and menthol flavors, after years of struggle with heightened regulatory scrutiny,