Big cigars light up another US tobacco battle

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has expressed its strong opposition to a bill that would exempt ‘traditional large and premium cigars’ from regulation by the Food and Drug Administration under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, according to an American Family Physician story.

The bill would reportedly amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to exempt from FDA oversight certain cigars, including some machine-made products that retail for $1. It could allow also some flavored cigars to qualify for exemption.

‘No tobacco product should be exempt from regulation – and certainly not inexpensive and flavored cigars,’ said a February 25 letter that was written by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) and signed by about 30 health care and public health-related organizations, including the AAFP.

‘Tobacco manufacturers have a history of modifying their products to avoid public health protections or attain lower tax rates.

‘We are concerned that the number of cigars covered by H.R. 662 [the bill in question] would increase over time as cigar manufacturers modify their products or change their manufacturing processes to qualify for the exemption.’

The bill is awaiting review by the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health.

A Senate companion bill was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.