While cigar manufacturers, retailers and smokers are still trying to grasp the impact of new regulations about to go into effect, it turns out the new rules could have been a lot worse—particularly for flavored cigars. On May 5, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced its plans to regulate cigars and other tobacco products. These new rules are part of what’s informally known as the deeming regulations. While the regulations were published a month ago, they’ve been in the works for many years. (For more information regarding FDA’s regulation of premium cigars, visit halfwheel.com/fda.) Part of that process includes submitting the potential regulations to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), an executive agency that oversees any new rule proposed by an executive agency like FDA. The primary purpose of OMB is to review the cost of potential regulations for both the public and private sectors. As part of its review, OMB oftentimes makes changes to the rules before they are published and go into effect. A document that shows FDA’s original proposed rules and the changes made by OMB indicates that FDA wanted to put in place harsher restrictions for flavored tobacco products, including flavored cigars. Removed ...
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