FDA Extends Listing Deadline for Domestic Manufacturers

Cigar factories located in the U.S. were supposed to have until Dec. 31, 2016 to submit a list of products they manufacturer in U.S. factories. Now, they will get another six months.

Today, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued draft guidance extending the deadline to file a list of products to June 30, 2017. The six month extension is the first of what could be many delays as FDA begins the process of regulating cigars, vapor devices and other products.

In reality, the move means little for most cigar companies as only a handful of companies commercially manufacturer in the U.S. It probably means more for retailers, as stores who blend pipe tobacco in their locations, a relatively common occurrence, would be considered a “domestic manufacturing establishments” and are subject to the requirements.

Cigar manufacturers have repeatedly told halfwheel the computer system FDA uses to accept submissions consistently malfunctions making the submission process extremely difficult.

While this is certainly a delay of some implementation, it does not mean that the rules are being delayed. Earlier this month, FDA began collecting user fees for cigars, the first major change since the rules went into effect on Aug. 8.

For more information about FDA’s regulation of premium cigars, please visit halfwheel.com/fda.