The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Friday granted Juul Labs, Inc.’s emergency motion for a temporary administrative stay and thus put a hold on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ban on Juul e-cigarette sales.

On Thursday, the FDA denied Juul marketing authorization due to potential health risks. Juul petitioned the court for a temporary administrative stay following the FDA’s ban, arguing the FDA acted “extraordinar[ily] and unlawful[ly][.]”

Juul claimed it attempted to assess the alleged health risks posed by its products, through nonclinical and clinical studies, behavioral-research programs, and population modeling and analysis. It claimed that, based on the results of these evaluations, compared to traditional cigarettes its products “significantly reduce exposure to harmful and often deadly toxins compared to combustible cigarettes[.]” It also said that it became “politically convenient” for the US Congress to blame Juul for vaping issues among the country’s youth. 

Juul argued that its only method of relief was for the court to allow an immediate stay so the company could continue selling its products.