FDA Proposes Banning Menthol Cigarettes, Flavored Cigars

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed new rules on regulating characterizing flavors, including menthol, in cigarettes and cigars.

The proposed standards will ban menthol as a characterizing flavor for cigarettes and ban all flavors except tobacco for cigars.

“The authority to adopt tobacco product standards is one of the most powerful tools Congress gave the FDA and the actions we are proposing can help significantly reduce youth initiation and increase the chances that current smokers quit. It is clear that these efforts will help save lives,” said Robert M. Califf, MD, FDA Commissioner.

These rules are based on the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009, which prohibited all characterizing flavors except tobacco and menthol.

Manufacturers, distributors, importers, wholesalers, and retailers will be the focus of this ban. Individuals will not be prohibited from possessing or using menthol cigarettes or flavored cigars.

—Leigh Precopio

Reference:

FDA proposes rules prohibiting menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars to prevent youth initiation, significantly reduce tobacco-related disease and death. News release. US Food and Drug Administration; April 28, 2022. Accessed April 29, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-proposes-rules-prohibiting-menthol-cigarettes-and-flavored-cigars-prevent-youth-initiation