United States Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) reintroduced the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act today. This goal of this bill is to exempt premium cigars from excessive and overly burdensome U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations and fees. This bill was first introduced by Rubio in 2011 with help from former Senator Bill Nelson.
Today, Facebook and Instagram are implementing new policies relating to alcohol, tobacco and e-cigarettes. This new policy completely bans private sales, trades, transfers and gifting of these products. We are interpreting this as meaning that we will no longer be able to run contests for cigars.
The FDA is taking another look at premium cigars in a move that anti-tobacco groups fear could weaken regulations. It's the latest push under Commissioner Scott Gottlieb to undertake a sweeping overall of tobacco and nicotine regulation. The FDA recently took the first step in lowering the amount of nicotine in cigarettes. It also said it's seeking information on the role flavors, including menthol, play in attracting people to tobacco products and alternatives like e-cigarettes.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 28, 2017 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Commissioner of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, announced a new comprehensive plan for the approach the agency will take to the regulation of tobacco products, placing an emphasis on a science-based method, that notes a "continuum of risk" that recognizes the differences in tobacco products.
Some much needed relief has come to the cigar industry today. While this is not a permanent solution and does not fix everything in cigar regulation, it is a major step. U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Columbia Amit P. Mehta ruled that he would be placing substantial equivalence regulations on hold indefinitely.
IPCPR has launched a new grassroots website, cigaraction.org. This site is a resource for retailers and consumers to get involved with public policy issues that affect premium cigars. This launch coincides with their first grassroots campaign urging Congress to support a premium cigar exemption provision in the annual spending bill. Over time, this site will serve as the center of IPCPR’s grassroots effort with the cigar community for multiple federal and state initiatives.
Earlier today, D.C. District Court Judge Amit Mehta issued an injunction prohibiting the U.S. Food & Drug Administration from enforcing its warning label requirements on cigars and pipe tobacco. The warning label requirements for packaging and advertising were slated to go into effect on August 10th. Judge Mehta’s order delays any enforcement of the requirement until at least 60 days after the conclusion of an appeal currently underway. No date has been set for a court to hear the appeal.
Earlier today the US House of Representatives passed a 12 bill spending package that includes a provision prohibiting the FDA from enforcing regulations against premium cigars. The bill, known as an omnibus appropriations package, passed the House by 211-198 votes and will now move to the Senate for consideration. Congress has until December 8th to pass spending legislation and fund the federal government.
Earlier today the United States Senate confirmed Dr. Scott Gottlieb as the next Commissioner of the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). IPCPR applauds the Senate’s decision to put thoughtful and experienced leadership at the head of an organization as critical as the FDA. Dr. Gottlieb’s confirmation puts a reform minded physician with experience in both the public and private sectors in charge of a regulatory body that has too often failed in its mission to protect the public health without needlessly hampering commerce in this country. The small business retailers and professional tobacconists that make up IPCPR are counting on the leadership of Dr. Gottlieb and the actions of his FDA to address and correct the onerous and catastrophic elements of last year’s Deeming Rule.