R. Michael Bryan 1st Vice Chair | DeKalb County Republican Party
R. Michael Bryan 1st Vice Chair | DeKalb County Republican Party
The Trump administration has officially withdrawn a proposed rule that would have banned menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. This decision, announced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ends a policy that had been indefinitely delayed under the Biden administration.
A regulatory filing indicated that the rule was "withdrawn" on January 21, marking President Trump's second day in office. The withdrawal represents a setback for public health advocates who argued that banning menthol could save numerous lives, particularly among Black smokers.
Kelsey Romeo-Stuppy, managing attorney at Action on Smoking and Health, expressed disappointment with the decision: “There is no justifiable reason to withdraw the FDA’s proposed rule to ban menthol. Tobacco industry profits should never be prioritized over American lives, but unfortunately, that’s what has happened with the FDA withdrawing the proposed rule to ban menthol in tobacco products.”
The FDA has declined to comment further on this matter due to a newly-ordered temporary ban on public communication.
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