IPCPR this morning issued an email about the recent FDA revised compliance that mostly affects Electonic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), however there is also a section of the policy that applies to flavored cigars. Below is the statement from IPCPR This morning, FDA announced draft guidance on “Modifications to Compliance Policy for Certain Deemed Tobacco Products”. Any changes in the compliance policy addressed in this Draft Guidance will not be implemented until 30 days after […]
“Today’s announcement is a huge relief for the premium cigar industry. Because there are no standards for testing premium cigars, there was no way that our four generation, 124-year-old family business could meet FDA’s rapidly approaching November testing deadline. FDA’s decision to extend the HPHC testing deadline until after the agency first issues guidance is eminently reasonable. “Although we will await FDA’s guidance, I remain very skeptical about whether it is possible to reliably test […]
The FDA today delayed a Nov. 8, 2019 deadline for reporting the results of testing for harmful and potentially harmful constituents in every cigar and pipe tobacco product sold in the United States. This was a huge problem because the technology for testing premium cigars does not exist, and the FDA had provided no guidance on how it was supposed to be accomplished for cigars and pipe tobacco. The new deadline is now six months […]
The commissioner of the FDA, Scott Gottlieb, announced Tuesday that he is resigning the position he has held or two years effective in one month. He has not yet given a reason for his departure but in a statement via Twitter he said, “I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity to help lead this wonderful agency, for the support of my colleagues, for the public health goals we advanced together, and the strong support of @SecAzar […]
Yesterday, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) reintroduced legislation in the United States Senate that would exempt premium cigars from FDA regulation. Joining Senator Rubio in co-sponsoring this bipartisan bill were Senators Corey Gardner (R-CO), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and Joni Ernst (R-IA). This legislation was just the ninth bill filed in the Senate in the new 116th Congress. This morning, Fox 13 News visited J.C. Newman Cigar Company’s historic cigar factory […]
The following is a press release submitted by the Cigar Rights of America. A new report by Mangum Economics updates the out-of-date economic analysis of the Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA”) regulation of premium handmade cigars, and estimates the number of U.S. jobs that will be lost because of the regulations. The report uses FDA’s own assumptions about the effects of the regulations and updates the calculations to use more recent government data. It also […]
Today, November 15th, 2017 FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb issued a statement calling for a ban on flavored cigars among other things. Below is the full text of his statement: As a physician who cared for hospitalized cancer patients, I saw first-hand the devastation that smoking-related diseases had wrought on the lives of patients and their families, and dedicated myself to helping ease this suffering. As a cancer survivor myself, I understand too well the […]
Yesterday, the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products announced an amended fee structure for their Civil Monetary Penalties (CMP). CMPs are the scaled financial penalties FDA issued to retailers found in violation of current regulations or requirements. A Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Complaint is used to initiate an administrative legal action against a retailer that can result in a monetary penalty, called a Civil Money Penalty. The Tobacco Control Act provides that the amount of a […]
Last week, the FDA held a conference on tobacco regulation. The agency invited Drew Newman, J.C. Newman’s general counsel, and a fourth-generation cigar maker, to address the conference on behalf of the premium cigar industry and respond to questions from the audience. In his speech, Drew explained that “premium cigars are an old-world, handmade craft enjoyed by adults.” “It is not a science,” he said. “It’s an art, and the tradition has been passed down […]
On June 25th, Altria Group the parent company of Nat Sherman submitted a letter to FDA on behalf of Nat Sherman and the other brands they own asking the FDA to not provide an exemption for premium cigars. The company which posted a revenue of over 25 billion in 2017 has made it clear they are against the small Mom & Pop companies that make up the premium cigars industry. If you listen to The […]