US FDA proposes banning menthol cigarettes and flavoured cigars

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is looking to ban menthol-flavoured cigarettes and all characterising flavours other than tobacco in cigars – a move that would also likely eliminate the possibility of flavours in products such as heated tobacco, though the possibility of some exemptions remains.

The new proposed standards were announced by FDA commissioner Robert Califf and acting director of the Center for Tobacco Products, Michele Mital who said that, if enforced, the rules will cover all products meeting the FDA definition of cigarettes.