Strong support awarded to FDA for proposed rules standard regulating flavored cigars and menthol cigarettes
August 15, 2022
Together with 103 associations, the American College of Chest Physicians
(CHEST) and the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids issued letters to the US
Food and Drug Administration in response to the
Proposed Rule for a Tobacco Product Standard for Menthol in Cigarettes
and the
Proposed Rule for a Tobacco Product Standard for Characterizing Flavors in Cigars.
In strong support of the proposed rules, the organizations stress that
menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars are disproportionately targeted
toward communities of color and youth, noting:
- Cigar makers have radically transformed the cigar market since 2009,
using flavored cigars to attract youth.
- Cigar smoking is a significant public health concern, particularly for
young people.
- Flavored cigars and menthol cigarettes disproportionately harm the health
of Black Americans and other marginalized populations.
- Menthol cigarettes increase youth initiation of smoking and addiction to
cigarettes.
- Menthol cigarettes make it harder to stop smoking.
“The life-long addictions that can develop after an initial introduction
to menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars seriously impact one’s lung
health, lifespan and overall livelihood,” says David Schulman, MD, MPH,
President of the American College of Chest Physicians. “For years, we’ve
known that these products target at-risk populations, and it’s encouraging
to see the administration taking action in this space. As an association
focused on lung diseases, CHEST encourages stronger regulation of all
products that cause harm to the lungs – especially those aimed at
vulnerable populations.”
The associations call on the FDA to finalize the proposed rules as quickly
as possible in accordance with their public health mission.
The full letters to the FDA can be found here:
RE: Docket No. FDA-2021-N-1349, “Tobacco Product Standard for Menthol
in Cigarettes”
RE: Docket No. FDA-2021-N-1309, “Tobacco Product Standard for
Characterizing Flavors in Cigars”