U.S. Food & Drug Administration

If you were curious about the costs of FDA regulation on premium cigars, we now have an idea of one piece of the regulations. The government remains opposed to any refunds of user fees.

The eight-year-old lawsuit between three cigar trade groups and the FDA had its latest court room battle. In the hour-long hearing, the questions seemed to favor the cigar position that the FDA regulations should not apply to “premium cigars.”

Today, July 15, is the eight year anniversary of the filing of the lawsuit. Its next chapter will take place in a D.C. court room in September. Update: We now know the judges assigned to the case.

It’s been almost five years since Donald J. Trump signed into law a bill that increased the minimum age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21. Tomorrow—about 1,500 days later than originally planned—the last of the paperwork will be filed to make this rule official.

Today’s landmark ruling will almost certainly limit the FDA’s ability to regulate tobacco products, including cigars. Chevron has been repeatedly mentioned in the premium cigar industry’s nearly eight-year-old lawsuit against FDA regulation.

While this case does not explicitly affect cigars, if FDA and HHS lose this case, it would accelerate a decision about whether to ban flavored cigars. Currently, that decision is on an indefinite hold.

A House of Representative Subcommittee voted, on party lines, to prevent the FDA from enacting the flavored cigar and menthol cigarette bans, as well as restrictions on nicotine limits, until after the agency adjust its policies regarding vaping products.

Next up: oral arguments.

…and what this has to do with cigars.

The menthol delay almost certainly means that a proposed ban on flavored cigarettes is also indefinitely delayed.

The legal battle over premium cigar regulations continues.