ICYMI: Blumenthal Urges OMB to Approve Proposed FDA Cuts to Nicotine Levels in Tobacco Products
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote to Shalanda Young, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and Richard L. Revesz, Administrator of Information and Regulatory Affairs, urging OMB to approve a proposed rule from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) establishing a maximum nicotine level in cigarettes and other tobacco products. Approval of this rule is the first step towards implementing a low-nicotine product standard for tobacco products.
“Despite significant declines over the past several decades, smoking remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, disproportionately affecting many marginalized and disadvantaged populations,” wrote Blumenthal. “However, there is strong research that demonstrates that reducing nicotine levels could significantly increase the number of people who quit smoking as well as prevent people, especially youth and young adults, from becoming addicted to begin with.”
Blumenthal shared his support for the FDA proposed rule and called on OMB to act swiftly, writing, “I am pleased to see FDA taking this action and urge OMB to support the proposed rule without delay while ensuring that all combusted tobacco products that could serve as alternatives for cigarettes are covered by the proposal.”
The full text of the letter can be found here and below.
Dear Director Young and Administrator Revesz,
I am writing to share my support for the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) proposed rule to establish a maximum nicotine level in cigarettes and certain other tobacco products. The implementation of a low-nicotine product standard has the potential to benefit millions of Americans, and this proposed rule is the first step in making the standard a reality. I urge the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to move swiftly to review and release the proposed rule before the end of this presidential term and to ensure that all combusted tobacco products are covered by the proposal.
Despite significant declines over the past several decades, smoking remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, disproportionately affecting many marginalized and disadvantaged populations.[1] More than 490,000 Americans die prematurely from cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke exposure every year.[2] However, there is strong research that demonstrates that reducing nicotine levels could significantly increase the number of people who quit smoking as well as prevent people, especially youth and young adults, from becoming addicted to begin with.[3]
In 2009, Congress took action to protect public health by passing the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act which granted FDA the authority to regulate tobacco products.[4] Specifically, the law allows the agency to require tobacco companies to reduce the nicotine content of cigarettes to nonzero levels.[5] Given the negative health impacts of nicotine addiction and the potential benefits in reducing nicotine levels in order to make them minimally or non-addictive, a standard for nicotine levels is extremely promising.
I am pleased to see FDA taking this action and urge OMB to support the proposed rule without delay while ensuring that all combusted tobacco products that could serve as alternatives for cigarettes are covered by the proposal.
Sincerely,
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