December 7 news, according to foreign news reports, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration （FDA） is expected to issue a proposed product standard in the spring of 2022, which may ban menthol as a feature in cigarettes Flavor, and prohibits all characteristic flavors in cigars.
FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products （CTP） Director Mitch Zeller （Mitch Zeller） stated in a webinar held on December 2 by the National Tobacco Export Association （NATO）， a trade organization in Minneapolis, that the goal is to These standards will be released a month ago.
Zeller said the intent behind these standards is based on clear scientific evidence related to the addictive and harmful nature of these products.
“If these proposed product standards are finalized and come into effect, this will help significantly reduce children’s smoking rates, increase current smokers’ quit rates, and, very importantly, address some serious health differences when using these types. Products for colored communities, low-income people and LGBTQ+ people,” he said.
After the FDA announces the proposed new rules, there will be a review and public comment period, which means that the ban will not take effect for one to two years, if any.
“After the proposed standards are released in April, all interested parties will see all the content in these proposed product standards, and very importantly, have the opportunity to comment on our proposal,” Zeller said. “And these comments have been very carefully considered and are an important part of our evaluation after receiving the comments.”
When it comes to menthol flavors in the pre-market tobacco product application （PMTA） process, Zeller stated that the FDA will continue to review non-tobacco flavor electronic nicotine delivery systems （ENDS） applications to determine whether there is sufficient product-specific science Evidence proves that it is beneficial for adult smokers to overcome the risks to adolescents.
Zeller said that the scientific review of the menthol electronic nicotine delivery system （ENDS） presents unique considerations, and the FDA is reviewing each product case by case with the same review criteria.
It is not clear whether the FDA will approve menthol-flavored e-cigarette products. For example, the FDA has approved RJ Reynolds Vapor Co.’s Vuse Solo ENDS product and the accompanying tobacco-flavored e-cigarette cartridge, but its mint-flavored product is still in an uncertain state.