It’s been three weeks since the U.S. Food & Drug Administration announced its plans to regulate cigars. Now, the three largest cigar organizations—the Cigar Association of America (CAA), Cigar Rights of America (CRA) and the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR)—have issued a joint statement on the regulation, including broadly describing a plan of action moving forward. The letter, addressed from Craig Williamson, president of CAA, Glynn Loope, executive director of CRA, and Mark Pursell, IPCPR’s ceo, is as follows. To Members of CAA, IPCPR, and CRA: It has been a little over two weeks since FDA released the Final Rule regulating cigars and other tobacco products. The 499-page rule is complex and raises as many questions as it answers. As the three industry trade associations have said, issuance of the Final Rule is the beginning of a long process. We are issuing this joint letter to advise members of actions we’re taking on behalf of the entire industry. We have all been hard at work to understand exactly what the rule requires, and to explain its various provisions to each of you. It is important to remember that, in many respects, the industry can continue doing business as it has — while certain ...
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