BUSINESS COMMUNITY

US regulatory power faces fresh test as new Supreme Court term nears

The Supreme Court, in a June 28 decision powered by its 6-3 conservative majority, overturned a legal principle called "Chevron deference" established by the justices 40 years ago that had called on judges to defer to federal agencies in interpreting laws they administer. That case involved an industry challenge to a U.S. regulatory agency's fish conservation program. The new case does not carry the same high stakes but nonetheless affords the conservative justices an opportunity to scrutinize actions of a regulatory agency, in this case the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's denial of applications to sell flavored vape products.