AAFP, ACP, AAP among dozens of organizations urging House to keep all cigars under FDA authority

Citing statistics that show cigars are rising in popularity among youth, and the health threat they pose to people of all ages, more than 40 groups have jointly sent a letter to the House of Representatives asking them to vote ‘no’ on a bill and any appropriation policy riders that would exempt some cigars from regulation under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

The Act is a 2009 law that represented a significant expansion of the FDA’s power to regulate tobacco advertising and to influence the manufacturing of tobacco products.

According to AAFP’s website, the new bill (House Resolution 564) would prohibit the FDA from promulgating public health protections related to what the cigar industry calls “traditional large and premium cigars.” According to the letter, this would exempt some inexpensive and flavored cigars that are “attractive to young people,” from FDA regulation.

The FDA announced last May on that it was extending its authority over e-cigarettes, cigars, hookah and tobacco by prohibiting retailers from selling these products to persons aged younger than 18. According to the current letter to Congress, the FDA considered whether “premium” cigars should be exempt, ultimately deciding “that there was no public health justification for exempting any cigars from FDA oversight because all cigars pose significant health risks.”

The new bill broadly defines “traditional large and premium cigar” as any roll of tobacco that is wrapped in 100% leaf tobacco, bunched with 100% tobacco filler, contains no filter, tip or non-tobacco mouthpiece and weighs at least six pounds per thousand count.

The groups’ letter adds to that definition, saying the resolution would exempt some machine-made cigars that cost as little as $1 and come in flavors such as watermelon, tropical and chocolate from FDA oversight.

“[These] are exactly the type of cigars attractive to young people,” the letter stated. The groups also expressed concerns that other cigars would be piggybacked onto the bill as their manufacturers alter their products or revamp their manufacturing process to meet exemptions allowed under the proposed resolution.

“No tobacco product should be exempt from oversight — and certainly not inexpensive and flavored cigars,” the letter states. “Our organizations strongly urge you to protect public health and kids and reduce the health and economic burden of tobacco-caused disease by opposing [House Resolution] 564 and any similar appropriations policy riders.”

The groups referenced the 2015 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which showed that among high school boys, smoking small cigars, cigarillos and large cigars has eclipsed the use of the traditional, combustible cigarette. In addition, according to the letter, a 2015 report by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that more than 2,100 kids under 18 years old try cigar smoking for the first time each day.

Other data lend support to the rise of cigars’ popularity. The National Youth Tobacco Survey showed in 2014 that 13.1% of current tobacco users (defined in the report as those who used 1 day or more during the preceding 30 days) who responded had smoked cigars. This same report found 170,000 had smoked cigars on 20 or more during the preceding 30 days.

In their letter to members of Congress, the groups also cited data from the National Cancer Institute that attributed cigar smoking to several types of cancer and an increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, aortic aneurysms.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Bill Posey, R-Fla., and at the time of this writing, has 69 co-sponsors, both Democrats and Republicans. It was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American College of Cardiology, American Psychological Association, American Society of Addiction Medicine, American Association for Respiratory Care, American Thoracic Society and American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery were also among the groups signing the letter.

Further reading:

http://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20170223housecigarltr.html

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/564/text