The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) has announced its Call to Action against proposed increasing regulations around tobacco manufacturing.
The FDA’s proposed requirements are aimed at tobacco product manufacturers regarding the manufacture, design, packing and storage of their products. The rules are aimed at cigars, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, and vape products. From a cigar industry standpoint, these regulations target cigar factories and pre-industry facilities both domestic and foreign. With the proposed rules published to the Federal Register, a public comment period (which is part of the rule making process) is currently underway
The framework for the Call to Action includes several components. First, the PCA is establishing a retailer/consumer petition. Those who sign will have their names included on the comments the PCA will submit to the FDA on the proposed regulations. In addition, the PCA is providing guidance to those who wish to submit comments. This includes a video and public comment submission resource and a portal for manufacturers wishing to submit comments. This includes a draft comment that is editable.
The Call to Action includes reference materials including PCA’s position on the proposed regulations and the oral comments that were made to the FDA.
The following is a cover letter published by the PCA on the Call for Action.
The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) is reaching out to you today to bring to your attention a matter of grave importance to the industry. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) proposed a new regulation on tobacco product manufacturing that could have severe consequences for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers. This proposed regulation would have a particularly negative impact on small business manufacturers. We urge you to take action and sign the petition below against this proposed rule and voice your concerns to the FDA in support of small businesses across the United States and the world in premium cigar-producing countries.
The proposed standard will require manufacturers to make unnecessary and burdensome investments in new equipment, new procedures, compliance, and additional personnel. These costs will be significant and ongoing, resulting in higher prices at the wholesale and retail levels.
It is important to emphasize that the FDA has not provided evidence supporting the need for this new regulation. The FDA has yet to present data on incidents or illnesses caused by nonconforming premium cigars and pipe tobacco. The proposed manufacturing standard is a solution in search of a problem.
Furthermore, the proposed regulations impose a seed-to-smoke tracking requirement for every premium cigar and a controlled system for managing the return and disposition of tobacco products to the manufacturer. These resource-intense and intrusive burdens mimic how FDA manages pharmaceuticals, which is clearly inappropriate for tobacco. It will devastate small manufacturers overseas, limiting supply and increasing costs for small business retailers in the United States.
We urge you to speak out against these proposed regulations! By signing the petition below, you agree to voice opposition to the proposed regulation. Your name will be submitted with a cover letter to the Center for Tobacco Products and the open public comment docket before the September 6th deadline. Please note that anyone can sign this petition. Still, we urge manufacturers to submit original comments directly to the FDA and have provided resources below on that process.
We must come together as an industry to fight against this proposed regulation and protect small businesses. Please sign the petition below, share this with your friends or customers, and spread the word about this critical issue.
Thank you for your support.
Call to Action
Below is a button to access the petition to submit your name
If you would like to submit a unique comment to the FDA opposing this proposed rule, the FDA recommends using the following links for additional information and resources:
- PCA’s Summary of the Proposed Rule
- PCA’s Oral Comment to the FDA
- PCA’s Submission Portal for Manufacturers
- How to Submit a Public Comment
- FDA’s Comment Submission Portal
Yes! Finally! This is precisely what I had been hoping for. Thank you, PCA, and thank you, Coop, for publishing this most important story.
I will be submitting my comment. These proposed regulations are going to kill my entrepreneurial dream of Colombian made premium cigars. For no discernable public health benefits.