Global Action supports the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed rule that would limit the nicotine content in cigarettes to non-addictive levels. If finalized, this rule would save hundreds of thousands of lives as people who smoke quit and others forgo cigarettes entirely.
But eliminating the addictiveness of cigarettes alone is not enough to move the public health needle. The reality is that there are tens of millions of Americans who smoke who require an accessible and lawful off-ramp to support their cessation journeys.
Adults who smoke should be encouraged through multiple avenues to move away from deadly cigarettes. Reducing nicotine levels in cigarettes is only one action that needs to be taken. For real change to occur, the FDA must enable a robust marketplace of alternative, less harmful nicotine products, such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, while also finalizing the ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars.
Thus far, the FDA has created a virtual ban on these alternative products, even though they significantly reduce a the risk of disease and early death when compared to cigarettes. This de-facto ban has led consumers to turn to the illicit, unregulated market. At the same time, the agency has authorized thousands of lethal, conventional cigarettes for sale on the grounds that they are “substantially equivalent” to cigarettes already on the market. It is vital that the FDA remain true to its statutory mandate to regulate nicotine and tobacco products in a manner that is appropriate for the protection of public health.
The latest U.S. Surgeon General report noted that 490,000 individuals die annually because of tobacco-related disease – the highest number ever reported. There is a clear and urgent need to help individuals move away from combustible cigarettes.