Last December, I penned an article entitled “The Myth of Rudy Giuliani Saving the Cigar Industry“. In my 6 1/2 years of owning and operating Cigar Coop, it easily was the most controversial article I wrote. Shortly after the 2016 Presidential Election, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was being anointed by some as “the […]
The court date for the lawsuit filed by the cigar industry’s trade associations against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been pushed back to August 30, 2017. The lawsuit challenges the Deeming Regulations implemented by the FDA on the premium cigar industry. Originally, opening arguments in the lawsuit were set to begin on July […]
According to a White House official, President Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Scott Gottlieb to be the next Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While Gottlieb’s roadmap on tobacco regulation is still to be determined, indicators are this could signal a positive change on how the agency deals with tobacco and premium cigars. […]
Connecticut Shade grown tobacco is one of the most popular type of tobacco lead used on cigars. It is not only grown in the State of Connecticut, but the seeds are used to grow the crop in many other regions and foreign countries. Now three Connecticut lawmakers want to ensure that there is no confusion between […]
A week after the cigar industry filed a Motion for Summary Judgment with the Court in its pending lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Adninistration (FDA) two additional Amicus Curaie briefs have been filed. One jointly by four states and one by the in profit organization Cause of Action Institute (CoA). The Motion for Summary Judgemet […]
Representative Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma) and Representative Sanford Bishop (D-Georgia) have introduced H.R. 1136, the FDA Deeming Authority Clarification Act of 2017. This is proposed legislation that would move the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s predicate date for deemed tobacco products from February 15, 2017 to 21 months after the act’s date of enactment. For premium […]
The Cigar Association of America (CAA), Cigar Rights of America (CRA), and International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) filed a motion for Summary Judgement and opening brief in the lawsuit challenging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Final Deeming Rule on premium cigars and pipes. The motion was filed February 13th, 2017 […]
Tom Price, a former Orthoepedic Surgeon turned U.S. Congressman from Georgia has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services. The move is of particular interest to the cigar community as Price’s department will oversee the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – the organization that regulates […]
With the 115th Congress now in session, Senator Bill Nelson [D-Florida] has once again introduced a bill to exempt premium cigars from regulation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Senate Bill 294 (S. 294) joins a companion bill H.R. 564 which was introduced last month in the House of Representatives that also proposes an […]
Three United States Congressman sent a letter to Vice President Mike Pence urging the Trump Administration to suspend enforcement of the FDA Deeming Rules on premium cigars. The letter was by Rep. Bill Posey (R-Florida), Rep.Duncan Hunter (R-California), and Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pennsylvania). The letter points out how the new regulations “are already causing tremendous difficult for premium cigar manufacturers […]
