Cigar Association of America Launches Portal for Comment on FDA’s Proposed Flavored Cigar Ban

The Cigar Association of America (CAA) has announced the launch of an online portal through which adult cigar consumers can comment on the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s proposed tobacco product standard on characterizing flavors in cigars.

“It is unfortunate that in public policy debates, the average adult consumer is often given little say in the matter,” said David Ozgo, CAA president, via a press release. “We developed this portal to give adult consumers a voice on this important issue.”

The launch of the portal comes after FDA announced in late April that it is considering banning characterizing flavors in cigars, which could effect both premium cigars and mass-market cigars, as a significant percentage of all cigars could be considered to have a characterizing flavor. According to the CAA, it also comes as flavored cigar usage rate by youth are at historic lows, citing a recent government survey that put it at one percent.

“Banning characterizing flavors in cigars, therefore, will do little beyond denying adult consumers the right to purchase a legal product,” Ozgo said, adding that he believes that the choice of which legal products adult consumers have a right to enjoy should be left entirely to adult consumers.