The Washington Post reported Tuesday that the Biden Administration may issue a new rule as soon as Tuesday that would force tobacco companies to cut nicotine levels in cigarettes to non-addictive levels.
There is a close up view of cigarettes.
The rule wouldn't be in effect for a long time.
The FDA would have to issue the proposed rule and take public comments, which could lead to lawsuits from tobacco companies, which could push back the implementation of the rule even more.
Two months ago, the FDA proposed a ban on menthol cigarettes, which make up one third of all cigarette sales in the U.S., in an effort to cut smoking related deaths.
According to the Post, the White House will announce the initiative as part of the administration's "unified agenda."
The White House didn't reply to Forbes.
More than 8 million. If the federal government restricted nicotine in cigarettes to non-addictive levels, there would be no smoking deaths by the year 2200.
The FDA has been considering reducing the levels of nicotine in cigarettes for a long time, but the policy was set aside after Scott Gottlieb left the agency. Nicotine alone does not cause cancer, but it is an addictive chemical in tobacco that causes people to smoke. The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, signed by Barack Obama in 2009, allowed the FDA to regulate nicotine levels in cigarettes as well as set standards for other ingredients in tobacco products. When nicotine levels in cigarettes are reduced, smokers are more likely to switch to less harmful alternatives. Tobacco companies argue that regulation would lead to increased purchases of black market products. The Biden Administration moved to ban menthol cigarettes, a product preferred by Black smokers, in the most aggressive federal government action in decades to regulate the sale of tobacco.
The Washington Post is reporting that the Biden administration is considering cutting nicotine in cigarettes.
There is a rule requiring less nicotine in cigarettes.
The FDA would like to ban menthol cigarettes and flavors of cigars.
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