News: Bipartisan Letter Sent to the FDA by 17 US Senators

This is really important stuff regarding our rights to enjoy a fine cigar, but more important is people’s right to earn a living making and selling legal products. But, you know what’s some bullshit (pardon my French)? Regarding this new comment period, the FDA is obligated to take the comments, and it’s encouraged for everyone to leave reasoned and educated comments, but, and here’s the stupid part, the FDA has no obligation to do anything about those comments! That’s some bullshit there! Anyway, this is a big deal, it’s important to contact your legislators and tell them you’d like to see them sign onto the legislation.

17 U.S. Senators, Led by Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio,Urge FDA to Exempt Premium Cigars from Regulation. Bipartisan Letter Cites New Research Showing That Children Do Not Smoke Premium Cigars. FDA Is Accepting Public Comments Through July 25. Have You Commented Yet?

Yesterday, Florida’s United States Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio sent the attached letter to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb urging the FDA to exempt premium cigars from regulation. The letter, signed by a bipartisan coalition of 17 United States Senators, cited new research from the National Institutes of Health’s PATH study, which found that children do not smoke premium cigars on a daily or frequent basis. The letter noted that premium cigars “are a unique product with a unique consumer base” and expressed concern that “additional regulation of premium cigars could force small businesses across the country to close and harm historic, American premium cigar manufacturers.”

The letter urged FDA to exempt premium cigars as defined in S. 294 and H.R. 564, the “Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2017,” which was sponsored by Senators Nelson and Rubio and Representatives Castor and Posey and co-sponsored by 20 Senators and 144 Representatives. This bipartisan legislation was previously co-sponsored by Vice President Mike Pence and Office and Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney when they were in the House of Representatives.

Drew Newman, General Counsel of J.C. Newman Cigar Co. of Tampa, Florida issued the following statement:

“We are very grateful to Senators Nelson and Rubio for their leadership in working to save America’s historic premium cigar industry from being destroyed by excessive government regulation. In a hyper-politicized age, this letter shows that saving the many small, family businesses and jobs that make up America’s premium cigars industry is truly a bipartisan issue that transcends political party lines.”

“In 2016, the FDA decided to apply the same, massive and exorbitantly expensive regulatory regime designed for cigarettes to artisanal, hand-crafted premium cigars like the ones that my family has been rolling for 123 years. The agency’s ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach doesn’t work. The cost of complying with the requirements for new enormous health warning labels, detailed chemical analysis, and premarket review are extreme. According to current estimates, it will cost more than $30 million for our historic Tampa cigar factory to comply with FDA regulation — more than three times the factory’s annual revenue. According to FDA’s own estimates, regulation is expected to put up to 50% of the premium cigar industry out of business.”

“As Senators Nelson and Rubio noted in their letter, new research — funded by FDA or written by FDA staff — has found that children do not smoke premium cigars, premium cigars are smoked infrequently, premium cigars are distinct from other tobacco products, and smoking premium cigars does not increase the risk of mortality. This new research shows that the basis for regulating tobacco products simply does not apply to premium cigars.

“The 17 Senators submitted this letter as a comment to the Advanced Notice of Public Rulemaking on Premium Cigars. Through July 25, the FDA is accepting comments from any member of the public on the regulation of premium cigars. If you have not already done so, please visit www.SaveCigarCity.com to submit your comments urging that the FDA exempt premium cigars from regulation today. It is very important for everyone who enjoys premium cigars to make their voice heard.”

Letter Signers:

Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL)

Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)

Senator John Boozman (R-AR)

Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA)

Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR)

Senator Joe Donnelly (D-IN)

Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO)

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)

Senator Dean Heller (R-NV)

Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI)