• FEDERAL TOBACCO ACTION CENTER

    The FDA is required to protect public health in its regulation of commercial tobacco products. To assist public health officials, advocates, lawyers, and researchers, the Center is working to make FDA actions and processes easier to understand. Our focus is to push the FDA to enact strong tobacco regulations that protect public health and promote health equity, to help the FDA defend its decisions against the tobacco industry’s legal challenges, and to proactively engage with the FDA to shape its agenda.

  • Current Action Items

    • Stop Menthol

      Tobacco Product Standard for Menthol in Cigarettes

      This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) follows collections of information in 2013 and in 2018 that did not include a proposal to act. Members of the public health community have until June 28, 2022, to submit comments to the FDA. Participation in this process is important, particularly as the tobacco industry will attempt to influence the process.

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    • Cigarellos with pricing stickers

      Tobacco Product Standard for Characterizing Flavors in Cigars

      On April 28, 2022, the FDA proposed a rule to ban flavors in cigars. This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) follows a collection of information in 2018 that did not include a proposal to act. Members of the public health community have until June 28, 2022, to submit comments to the FDA. Participation in this process is important, particularly as the tobacco industry will attempt to influence the process

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    • A black women with her hand up and the text, "Ban Menthol. There is only one equitable decision."

      FDA Menthol Timeline

      This timeline marks some important moments between the passing of the Tobacco Control Act, and the proposed rules on menthol in cigarettes and all flavors in cigars issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on April 28, 2022.

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  • Featured Resources

    • Flag of the United States

      Federal Tobacco Regulation 101

      New to FDA tobacco regulation? Start here for the basics.

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    • Hands holding up cut outs of word bubbles

      Telling the Public Health Story to the FDA

      This fact sheet is intended to give the public health community an overview of the FDA rulemaking process and information on how to be an active participant.

      Telling the Public Health Story

    • Scientist working with modules

      Getting Scientific Research to the FDA

      This fact sheet is intended to give scientists and academics in the public health community an overview of the FDA rulemaking process and information on how to be active participants.

      Getting Scientific Research to the FDA