The ACC and a host of other medical specialty societies sent a joint letter to House and Senate leaders expressing strong opposition to H.R. 662, legislation that would exempt many cigars from regulation under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA). The TCA gave the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority over the manufacture, sale and marketing of all tobacco products, including cigars. If enacted, H.R. 662 would exclude "traditional large and premium cigars" from FDA oversight. Specifically, the letter expressed concern about the impact this deregulation could have on youth smoking, as flavored and inexpensive cigars could fall outside of the FDA's purview. "No tobacco product should be exempt from regulation – and certainly not inexpensive and flavored cigars," says the letter. "Our organizations strongly urge you to oppose H.R. 662 and, instead, support the current science-based rule-making process FDA is now conducting to determine appropriate oversight of cigars and other unregulated tobacco products."

Keywords: Commerce, Smoking, Societies, Medical, Tobacco, United States Food and Drug Administration

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