The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a proposed rule to reduce nicotine levels in nearly all combusted tobacco products sold in the United States. This proposal, set to appear in Thursday's Federal Register, aims to address nicotine addiction by lowering nicotine content to non-addictive levels.
Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association, commented on this development: “Youth are initially attracted to tobacco products due to flavors and industry marketing, but they become addicted because of the nicotine. In 2009, Congress gave FDA the authority to reduce nicotine levels in tobacco products, which paved the way for the agency to propose this new rule."
Wimmer emphasized that reducing nicotine could significantly impact youth smoking rates: "Making tobacco products non-addictive would dramatically reduce the number of young people who become hooked when they are experimenting." He also urged the FDA to extend these measures beyond combusted products: "To fully address the toll of tobacco on our nation’s health and across all communities, we urge FDA to reduce nicotine levels to non-addictive levels in all tobacco products, including all cigars, hookah and e-cigarettes."
The American Lung Association plans to thoroughly review the proposed rule and provide feedback to the FDA.
