The ATS Asks Biden Administration to Take Action on Tobacco Control
This week, members of the ATS Tobacco Action Committee met with White House staff to urge the Administration to take quick action on tobacco control, including urging the FDA to issue two proposed rules: one rule to ban menthol flavored cigarettes and an accompanying rule to ban flavored cigars. The FDA has drafted regulations on both issues, but the proposed regulations are under final review at the White House/Office of Management and Budget.

In the meeting, the ATS Tobacco Action Committee Chair Michelle Eakin, PhD, noted that cigars, particularly candy flavored small cigars and cigarillos, as well as menthol cigarettes have a disproportionate impact on low income and minority communities and that the tobacco industry has intentionally marketed these products to minority groups.

The FDA is under a court order to issue a proposed rule to regulate menthol cigarettes by April 29, 2022.