The U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) recently approved the mostly editorial revisions to the original menthol report issued in March.  During a meeting held on July 21st, members of the TPSAC voted 8 to 0 to approve the changes to the report.  The report that was issued in March did not call for a specific ban on menthol and the vote taken last week does not constitute a final determination on the product.  The FDA holds the power to make a ruling on the menthol issue but no deadline exists for that agency to issue such a ruling.

The TPSAC meeting also included a discussion on the issue of dissolvable tobacco lozenges.  The FDA advisory panel is currently studying this issue and will make recommendations to the FDA after it meets again in November.