FDA invites comments on application for General snus modified risk certification

The US Food and Drug Administration is seeking public comments on Swedish Match’s request for its General-branded tobacco products to be certified as less harmful than cigarettes, according to a story by Michael Felberbaum for Associated Press.

Swedish Match announced in June that it had submitted a Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) application to the FDA for eight sub-brands of its General snus product line.

‘The MRTP application seeks a risk modification order permitting the use of warning label statements on the company’s snus tobacco products that differ from those carried by other commercially marketed smokeless tobacco products,’ the company said.

This is the first time the FDA has sought input on a MRTP application and the move is being closely watched by both the public health community and tobacco companies.

The FDA on Tuesday said it would accept comments for 180 days on the company’s application to market General snus as modified risk products.

The agency’s scientific advisory panel plans to review the application at its next meeting, which has not yet been scheduled.

The entire review process is expected to take about a year.