FDA Considers Regulating Nicotine Levels In Cigarettes

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking aimed at regulating nicotine levels in cigarettes.

According to a recently released statement issued by the FDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the advance notice of proposed rulemaking was issued in order to “obtain information for considering in developing a tobacco product standard to set the maximum nicotine level for cigarettes.”

“The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing this advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) to obtain information for consideration in developing a tobacco product standard to set the maximum nicotine level for cigarettes.”

In other words, the FDA is considering regulating the amount of nicotine that cigarette manufacturers can infuse in their cigarettes and they want more information on the matter before implementing such regulations.

Their reasoning, in short, appears to be an attempt to reduce exposure to cigarettes by reducing the amount of addictive nicotine contained within them. By their account, such regulatory efforts “could give addicted users the choice and ability to quit more easily, and it could help to prevent experimenters (mainly youth) from initiating regular use and becoming regular smokers.”

“We envision the potential circumstance where nicotine levels in cigarettes do not spur or sustain addiction for some portion of potential smokers. This could give addicted users the choice and ability to quit more easily, and it could help to prevent experimenters (mainly youth) from initiating regular use and becoming regular smokers.”

The proposed regulations would be aimed at reducing nicotine levels in cigarettes to “minimally addictive or nonaddictive,” according to the FDA. The agency further clarified the context in which they used the term “nonaddictive” in stating that they actually mean “potentially nonaddictive,” rather than simply nonaddictive.

“FDA is using the term “nonaddictive” in this document specifically in the context of a potentially nonaddictive cigarette.”

The agency is requesting that comments on the ANPRM be submit either electronically or by mail, courier, or hand delivery. All comments must be submit before June 14, 2018. Comments that are submit after the aforementioned cutoff date will not be taken into consideration.