AWMA’s President Scott Ramminger and Government Relations Vice President Anne Holloway attended the FDA’s Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) meeting on January 19th as part of the committee’s efforts to deliver a report to FDA on the nature and impact of the use of dissolvable tobacco products on public health.

 AWMA President Ramminger delivered testimony before TPSAC urging the committee to continue to provide adults the opportunity to choose whether or not to purchase these dissolvable tobacco products, just as they have the choice to purchase cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Speaking before the committee, Ramminger stated “from our perspective this issue is really quite simple and straightforward.  These dissolvable products are tobacco products and they are sold on the same store shelves as all other tobacco products.  That is, these dissolvables are non-self service and require a clerks assistance to access and purchase them.”

Ramminger also noted in his testimony that “these dissolvable products carry the same health warnings as other smokeless tobacco products and they are taxed at the same rate as other smokeless tobacco products.  And, like cigarettes and other tobacco products, the sale of these dissolvable products are age-restricted, requiring proof of age before purchase.”

The TPSAC report to FDA is due on March 23, 2012 and AWMA will continue to ensure that our distributor concerns are understood as the committee works to study this issue.