Dr. Gaby Kafie, owner and founder of Kafie 1901 Cigars, has authored a letter to U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb in regards to nicotine levels in cigars. The letter is a response to the recent Advanced Notice of Public Rule Making (ANPRM) in terms of maximum nicotine levels. In the ANPRM, […]
Editor’s Corner Volume 7, Number 4a: Love Rollercoaster
William Cooper Blog, Cigar News, Editor's Corner No Comments Editor's Corner, FDA
It never fails. As I embark on travel, complete chaos seems to reign supreme in the cigar industry. Just when I thought a new level of chaos was reached with two cigar companies getting acquired in one day – along comes the week of March 18th to top it all. With this particular week, it […]
Cigar News: FDA Releases ANPRM on Premium Cigars
William Cooper Cigar News No Comments FDA, News
The long-awaited Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ANPRM) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding premium cigars was released into draft today. This ANPRM begins the period where the FDA is officially beginning the process of re-evaluating how (or if) premium cigars should be regulated. An ANPRM seeking comments, data, research results, […]
Cigar News: Cigar Industry Responds to Omnibus Snub
William Cooper Cigar News No Comments CRA, FDA, IPCPR, News
Following the decision by Congressional leaders to not include an exemption and predicate date change for the regulation of premium cigars by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus Spending Bill, the cigar trade associations issued a public response. Both organizations expressed disappointment; but with the industry’s lawsuit against […]
Cigar News: No Premium Cigar Exemption or Grandfather Date Change on Omnibus
William Cooper Cigar News 1 Comment FDA, News
Congress appears to have come to an agreement on what will be in its 1.3 trillion dollar Omnibus spending package – and it will not include an exemption, nor grandfather (predicate) date change from regulation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for premium handmade cigars. The Omnibus Spending Bill specifies what government programs […]
Cigar News: FDA Releases ANPRM on Flavored Tobacco
William Cooper Cigar News 1 Comment FDA, News
As promised, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking a closer look on how to regulate flavored tobacco. Today the agency announced an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ANPRM) to solicit input into how this should be done. While aimed at cigarettes and e-cigarettes, premium cigars are very much a part of […]
Cigar News: Rocky Patel Discusses Battle with FDA on Tucker Carlson Tonight.
William Cooper Cigar News 2 Comments FDA, News, Rocky Patel
It was the public relations move the premium cigar industry was most in need of as Rocky Patel, owner and founder of Rocky Patel Premium Cigars, was a guest on Tucker Carlson Tonight. It was the opportunity to take the cigar industry’s battle with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to a wider audience. […]
Cigar News: FDA Plans Additional ANPRMs for Regulation of Premium Cigars and Flavored Tobacco
William Cooper Cigar News 2 Comments FDA, News
Yesterday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ANPRM) concerning setting limits on maximum nicotine levels in tobacco products. This was part of a comprehensive plan by FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb announced last July to reduce nicotine levels down to non-addictive levels. As a part of […]
Cigar News: Advance Notice of Proposed Rule Making for Maximum Nicotine Levels Announced by FDA
William Cooper Cigar News 2 Comments FDA, News
Back in July, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb announced plans for a program aimed at reducing nicotine levels in tobacco products. As a part of the program, the question of whether premium cigars should be regulated differently was posed. As a result, the FDA announced it was extending the deadline […]
Cigar News: Alex Azar Confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services
William Cooper Cigar News 1 Comment FDA, News, People
The United States Senate has confirmed Alex Azar as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). The appointment should be of particular interest to the cigar community as HHS oversees the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – the organization that regulates premium cigars. Azar comes from the pharmaceutical industry, where from 2012 […]