The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday announced it will once again try to ban menthol cigarettes, as well as all flavored cigars — adding that it aims to introduce the regulations in the coming year.
The FDA has attempted several times to get rid of menthol but faced pushback from the tobacco industry, members of Congress and competing political interests in both the Obama and Trump administrations. Any menthol ban would take years to implement and will likely face legal challenges from tobacco companies.
“Banning menthol—the last allowable flavor—in cigarettes and banning all flavors in cigars will help save lives, particularly among those disproportionately affected by these deadly products,” acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D., said in a statement.
“With these actions, the FDA will help significantly reduce youth initiation, increase the chances of smoking cessation among current smokers, and address health disparities experienced by communities of color, low-income populations, and LGBTQ+ individuals, all of whom are far more likely to use these tobacco products,” Woodcock added.
Read more at Fox29.
{Matzav.com}