Ramminger Testifies at FDA

AWMA CEO Scott Ramminger Testifies At FDAs TPSAC Meeting

AWMA President & CEO Scott Ramminger testified before the FDA’s Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) on March 17 telling the committee “a ban on menthol cigarettes would be ineffective and create a significant contraband market with ill-effects for our members and others.”

Ramminger’s testimony at the TPSAC hearing on Thursday, March 17th, was part of the committee’s investigation into the impact of the use of menthol cigarettes on public health as directed by the new Family Smoking Prevention & Tobacco Control law.  Ramminger’s testimony was cited in a recent CSP article “Winds Blow Against Menthol.”

Members of TPSAC have indicated that removing menthol cigarettes from sale in the U.S. would benefit public health and have stated that their yearlong analysis shows the menthol flavor harms public health by luring more people to start smoking.  The report which was due by March 23rd is non-binding but was required under the tobacco law passed in 2009.  The report issued by TPSAC has touched on many issues relating to menthol but none of the recommendations issued in the report are binding for the FDA and it will be some time before that agency begins to advance rulemaking procedures relating to the report.

Menthol products account for about 30 percent of the $85 billion in annual sales of cigarettes in the United States.  After the draft report was issued by TPSAC earlier this week, Lorillard stocks rose about 11 percent in New York Stock Exchange composite trading.

AWMA’s Ramminger told the TPSAC members that AWMA has studied cigarette sales and contraband markets for years and if menthol were banned a currently legal product would be replaced by a contraband market.   To view the TPSAC report issued March 23, click here:  http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/TobaccoProductsScientificAdvisoryCommittee/UCM247689.pdf

You may view Ramminger’s report before TPSAC at the FDA Web site http://www.fda.gov/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/TobaccoProductsScientificAdvisoryCommittee/ucm247247.htm