Today, the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (“IPCPR”), Cigar Association of America (“CAA”), and Cigar Rights of America (“CRA”) were pleased to announce the adoption of language in the FY 2019 budget as approved by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations by a vote of 29 – 20 that works to protect premium cigars from overreaching and burdensome regulations, as proposed by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. The language addresses […]
Yesterday, Judge Amit Mehta issued an opinion on several issues raised in the IPCPR’s lawsuit against the FDA. Notably, Judge Mehta struck down the requirement that retailers who blend pipe tobacco must register their establishments with and submit product listings to the FDA. This is a positive development for IPCPR members and significantly eases the compliance burden facing many premium tobacconists around the country. However, Judge Mehta did not endorse other challenges to the FDA’s: […]
The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) has signed a multi-year contract to hold its Annual Convention & International Trade Show at the Sands Expo® and The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, beginning in 2019. “We’re very excited to be going back to the Sands/Venetian. Having the event and people all housed together under one roof gives everyone a lot more in the way of networking opportunities,” says IPCPR Board Secretary and […]
The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) announces the promotion of Dawn Conger to Vice President of Operations and the hiring of Scott C. Pearce as Executive Director. Since 2012, Dawn Conger has served as the director and main point of contact for the IPCPR Annual Convention & International Trade Show. She is responsible for spearheading all aspects of the annual trade show planning and management—including marketing, budgeting, logistics, staff and vendor management. Dawn […]
The FDA has finally published its long awaited notice on premium cigars. The Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ANPRM) was released earlier today, and as anticipated, seeks input from industry, other stakeholders and the public on if and how the agency should define and regulate premium cigars differently from the status quo. This is the third of three solicitations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that were part of the agency’s comprehensive plan […]
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 […]
Today, Commissioner of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, announced a new comprehensive plan for the approach the agency will take to the regulation of tobacco products, placing an emphasis on a science-based method, that notes a “continuum of risk” that recognizes the differences in tobacco products. Importantly, Dr. Gottlieb stated that FDA will reexamine the treatment of premium cigars under the agency’s current regulatory structure. Ultimately, the agency will open a […]
The boys are back and we will discuss IPCPR with Steve Saka from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust as we light up his Mi Querida in the first hour of the show. This show has the potential of creating the perfect storm as Steve isn’t shy and promises to unload his thoughts about the most recent IPCPR. In the second hour we will light up the new Winston Churchill Late Hour from Davidoff Cigars as we […]
In past years the Davidoff Golden Band Awards were part of a black tie event at night after the trade show floor was closed. This year the company chose to change it up by having the awards on the floor of the trade show at a closed media event that The Cigar Authority was invited to. Below are the nominees with the winners in bold. Best Performance (Single Location) Blend Bar Cigar (Indianapolis, Ind.) Hemingway’s […]
RoMaCraft is based in Austin, Texas and Esteli, Nicaragua and are one of the hottest boutique manufacturers in the game. While the company isn’t releasing any new cigars here in the USA they are offering a few line extensions for the European Market that were on display at IPCPR. Those items include 3 new sizes of Neanderthal. All three names are in German, which is a sign these are heading to Germany where the company […]