The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has submitted a proposed rule to the White House Office on Management and Budget concerning nicotine levels in certain tobacco products. This move has prompted a response from Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association.
Wimmer stated, “Reducing nicotine to non-addictive levels in cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products would fulfill a major promise inherent in the Tobacco Control Act to save millions of lives and is why Congress gave FDA the authority to reduce nicotine levels in tobacco products to any amount above zero. Once finalized, this rule could be a game changer in our nation’s efforts to eliminate tobacco use."
He further emphasized that making tobacco products non-addictive "would dramatically reduce the number of young people who become hooked when they are experimenting." Wimmer highlighted the importance of reducing nicotine levels across all commercial tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, as part of addressing the health impact of tobacco nationwide.
The American Lung Association intends to review the proposed rule thoroughly and provide feedback to the FDA. They have previously commented on low nicotine commercial tobacco products.
