A draft report from the Food & Drug Administration’s Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) indicates that the advisory panel is unable to conclude that menthol smokers face an increased or different disease risk than people who use regular cigarettes.  The official report is due out on March 23rd and in the same draft report the panelists indicated that it is “biologically plausible” that menthol flavoring makes cigarettes more addictive.  

AWMA’s Scott Ramminger will be testifying before the TPSAC at a meeting next week in Washington.  Ramminger’s testimony will focus on a letter we sent to the FDA and TPSAC urging the agency not to consider a ban on menthol cigarettes as it would likely result in a significant increase in the contraband market.  Ramminger’s testimony should be available following the meeting next week and as soon as FDA releases the video we will upload it onto our AWMA website.