Like clockwork the past few years the House and Senate have introduced bills that would provide a much needed exemption for Premium Cigars. Earlier this year the Senate introduced S.8 which was introduced by Senator Marco Rubio, and H.R. 1854 follows suit with however it is it not identical and would remove a certain exemption sought by S.8. The bill currently summarized as “H.R.1854 – To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify […]
In Maryland Bill SB 826 has introduced by Republican Senator Andrew Serafini (District 2, Washington County) that would remove the tax on premium cigars. The synopsis of the bill states, “Exempting certain premium cigars that are to be sold in the State from the tobacco tax.” Currently the state sees cigars taxed at 15% of the wholesale price. A fiscal policy on the measure stated the state would lose 2.8 million in taxes if the tax […]
Earlier today the US House of Representatives passed a 12 bill spending package that includes a provision prohibiting the FDA from enforcing regulations against premium cigars. The bill, known as an omnibus appropriations package, passed the House by 211-198 votes and will now move to the Senate for consideration. Congress has until December 8th to pass spending legislation and fund the federal government. So what does this mean? Section 752 of the House Agriculture Appropriations […]
Yesterday, United States Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) re-introduced legislation to exempt premium cigars from FDA regulation. The bill, Senate Bill 294 (“S. 294”), was introduced with a total of 10 original sponsors and co-sponsors, which include Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Senator Daines (R-MT), Senator Tester (D-MT), Senator John Boozman (R-AR), Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Senator Corey Gardner (R-CO), Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) and Senator Dean Heller (R-NV). Like S. 441 and […]
There was hope that the cigar industry would receive a Hail Mary when earlier this year, the House Appropriations Committee approved a bill that provided an exemption for premium cigars from the over-reach of the FDA. However, in a bill proposal last night that will fund the U.S. Government until the spring of 2017 the language that would have provided safe passage for premium cigars was stripped from the bill. The bill will fund the […]
Is President Trump Going to be good for Cigar Smokers…. it looks that way! The Trump Administration Transition would be calling for a “temporary moratorium on all new regulations.” Stay tuned for possible good news. Here are just some of the reasons it looks that way… see if you agree. Vice President-Elect Mike Pence is a past co-sponsor of the Premium Cigar Exemption legislation, when he served in the U.S. House of Representatives. Georgia Congressman […]
As members of the House of Representatives return to work this week, Representative Kathy Castor, a Democrat from Tampa, Florida is set to introduce a bill that will provide an exemption for donating cigars to members of the military. The bill which was reported first on Saturday during the live broadcast of The Cigar Authority was confirmed by Glynn Loope of Cigar Rights of America. Since the FDA Regulations were announced, the hands of manufacturers […]
International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Applauds U.S. House Effort to Protect Premium Cigar Industry from Onerous Regulation WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies released the draft legislation for FY2017 which included a provision to protect premium cigars from undue FDA regulation. The language states, “SEC. 749. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used […]
A silver lining in the forthcoming budget fails to materialize as the House of Representatives has released a bill that has been referred to as omnibus and that the exemption for cigars was removed from that final proposal. While the bill moves before a vote of the House and Senate there still remains a slim chance that the language could miraculously find its way back into to bill. It is believed that the language which was […]