Proposed Menthol Cigarette Ban Withdrawn by Trump Administration, Delaying Public Health Goal
In a setback for advocates striving for over a decade, the Trump administration has withdrawn a proposed ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. This action jeopardizes public health efforts to curb tobacco-related illnesses.
The draft ruling for the ban on menthol was designated as "withdrawn" in a regulatory docket earlier this week. This news sparked a surge in cigarette maker stocks:
* Altria Group Inc.: +1.9%
* Philip Morris International Inc.: +1.2%
* British American Tobacco Plc: +0.3%
The 2009 Tobacco Control Act prohibited all cigarette flavors except menthol. It authorized the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to oversee tobacco products and instructed them to "further consider the issue of menthol in cigarettes."
Following years of advocacy pressure, the FDA proposed rules in April 2022 to cease the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. However, deadlines for action have been repeatedly missed. A final rule was anticipated in 2023, but the Biden administration postponed it until March 2024.