NATSO submitted comments on Aug. 2 on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) proposed tobacco product standards for menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars that, if finalized as proposed, would ban those products.
NATSO expressed concern that prohibiting menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars will increase the illicit trade of these tobacco products and negatively impact the retailers that sell them, including travel centers.
“The proposed tobacco product standards seek to prohibit the use of two of the most popular tobacco products among adult users. It is unrealistic for the Agency to assume that demand for these products will simply disappear. If FDA finalizes its regulations as proposed, the black market will undoubtedly grow in response to meet the consumer demand that exists among adult users of these products,” NATSO explained.
FDA has the authority to regulate tobacco products to reduce their use and prevent their uptake by minors under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. However, the Agency must consider the risks and benefits when establishing any tobacco product standard, including the development of markets for nonconforming tobacco products. The FDA will now review the comments filed by the public on the Proposal.
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