17 Senators Send FDA Letter to Exempt Premium Cigars

A group of 17 bipartisan Senators have sent a letter to Dr. Scott Gottlieb, commissioner of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), urging him to exempt premium cigars from FDA regulation.

“The 2009 law aimed to protect the health of the American public and prevent the use of tobacco products by children – goals that we all support and share,” reads the letter. “However, we have consistently heard cigars are a unique product with a unique consumer base. We are concerned that additional regulation of premium cigars could force small businesses across the country to close and harm historic, American premium cigar manufacturers that use antique machinery.”

The Senator’s letters use the premium cigar definition as defined by the proposed legislation, namely a premium cigar must use a tobacco wrapper and tobacco filler or if made in the U.S., a homogenized binder that is laid onto a machine by human hands.