Vapor Association Expresses Support for Menthol Cigarette Ban

Published on August 2, 2022

VAPOR TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION SUBMITS COMMENTS IN FAVOR OF FDA MENTHOL BAN FOR CIGARETTES

Urges Agency to Pursue Ban While Preserving Market for Properly Regulated Vaping Products

WASHINGTON, August 02, 2022 (Newswire.com) – Today, the Vapor Technology Association (VTA) submitted official comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advocating in support of FDA’s proposed tobacco product standard that would ban menthol flavored cigarettes and strongly encouraging the FDA to continue to build the necessary offramp to menthol and flavored vaping products for smokers to access effective smoking alternatives.

“The menthol cigarette rule could be one of the most significant steps that the FDA has taken to protect public health in the United States. It has the potential to dramatically reducing cigarette smoking – the leading cause of death and disease of Americans – but only if the Agency heeds the warning of scientists that menthol smokers must have access to less harmful vaping and other alternative nicotine products. These limitations threaten to take what should be a public health victory and turn it into a half measure that, in the absence of other decisive action from the FDA, will fall far short of the benefits the Agency claims.”

“FDA’s own proffered scientific experts acknowledge that at least 50%, and in some cases a larger percentage, of smokers will continue to smoke cigarettes or other combustible products after the menthol cigarette rule is put into effect unless provided access to effective alternatives. To fulfill its own harm reduction mission, the agency must use its PMTA process to ensure a rational, regulated legal marketplace with suitable less harmful non-combustible alternatives.”

Read the full comment here.