I believe the key point to this delay is found in this quote:
"Conley forwarded an FDA email announcing the delay.
“This extension will allow new leadership at the FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services additional time to more fully consider issues raised by the final rule that are now the subject of multiple lawsuits in federal court,” stated Lindsay R. Tobias, an FDA policy analyst."
Given Gottlieb's position on
harm reduction as testified to in his confirmation hearings, it is quite possible the Center for
tobacco guys were doing a bit of cover your .... by adding the delay in. If they have significant concern they'll be told to bag it by executive order, why bother to start collecting stuff you'll be told to throw out a month later?
Oh, wait. That's illogical. This a a government agency we're talking about. They never seem to mind doing unnecessary work.