The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new proposed product standards to ban menthol as a characteristic flavor in cigarettes and ban all characteristic flavors in cigars.
The FDA notes that these actions have the potential to significantly reduce illness and death from the use of burned tobacco products, the leading preventable cause of death in the US, by reducing experimentation and addiction of tobacco products. and increase the number of smokers who quit.
“The proposed rules would help prevent children from becoming the next generation of smokers and help adult smokers quit “, commented the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra. “In addition, the proposed rules represent an important step in promoting health equity by significantly reducing tobacco-related health disparities.”
The government agency explains that menthol is an additive with a mint flavor and aroma that reduces the irritation and harshness of smoking, which increases the attractiveness and makes menthol cigarettes easier to consume, especially among youth and young adults.
The FDA notes that menthol also interacts with nicotine in the brain to increase the addictive effects of nicotine and that the combination of the taste of menthol, the sensory effects and the interaction with nicotine in the brain increases the probability that young people who begin to use menthol cigarettes progressively.
“The characteristic flavors of cigars, such as strawberry, grape, cocoa and fruit punch, increase the appeal and make the cigarettes easier to use… More than half a million youth in the US use flavored cigarettes and, in recent years, more youth tried a cigar every day than a cigarette,” says the FDA.
“Through the rulemaking process, there is an important opportunity for the public to make their voices heard and help give forms part of the FDA’s ongoing efforts to improve public health,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf.
As of May 4, 2022 , the public can provide comments on these proposed rules, which the FDA will review as it considers future actions. The agency will also convene open sessions on June 13 and 13 to expand direct engagement with the public, including affected communities.
People will have the opportunity to submit electronic or written comments directly to the docket on the proposed rules through July 5, 2022. Once all comments have been reviewed and considered, the FDA will decide whether to issue standards for the final product.
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