FDA's Misguided War on Flavored Cigars: Delays Consumer Access to Tobacco Harm Reduction

In 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was given authority to regulate tobacco products. Since then, the FDA has overseen the manufacturing and sale of numerous tobacco products from combustible cigarettes to new tobacco harm reduction products.

Despite these significant declines, today the agency is trying to enact new product standards, specifically eliminating characterizing flavors in all cigars.^[i] The agency claims that prohibiting flavors in cigars will “reduce the appeal of cigars, particularly to youth and young adults, and decrease the likelihood of experimentation,” as well as increase the “likelihood that existing cigar smokers may quit.”^[ii]

This report examines FDA’s role in regulating tobacco products, including cigars and certain requirements manufacturers and retailers must comply with. The report then analyzes youth use of cigars, concluding that even while flavored cigars have been available for retail sale, youth use continued to decline.

The report then goes on to evaluate whether increased sales of flavored cigars correlate with increased use of cigars among both youth and adults, and finds no correlation. The report also examines the health risk profile of cigars, with numerous studies indicating that moderate use of cigars does not amount to the same health risks posed by combustible cigarettes.

Finally, the report analyzes FDA’s role in both recognizing and promoting tobacco harm reduction products for adults who smoke and urges the agency to focus its priorities on issuing marketing orders for novel tobacco harm reduction products.

^[i] U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “FDA Proposes Rules Prohibiting Menthol Cigarettes and Flavored Cigars to Prevent Youth Initiation, Significantly Reduce Tobacco-Related Disease and Death,” April 28, 2022, https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-proposes-rules-prohibiting-menthol-cigarettes-and-flavored-cigars-prevent-youth-initiation.

^[ii] Ibid.