FDA Proposes Nicotine Limit to 0.7 mg per Gram in Cigarettes to Curb Addiction

Jan 15, 2025, 03:13 PM

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a new rule to limit the nicotine levels in cigarettes and certain other combusted tobacco products to make them minimally or non-addictive. The proposal, released on Wednesday, aims to reduce the addictiveness of these products, potentially helping nearly 13 million current smokers quit within a year and preventing approximately 48 million young people from starting. The rule would cap nicotine at levels that would no longer sustain addiction among smokers, specifically at 0.7 milligrams per gram of tobacco, compared to the current average of 17.2 milligrams per gram. According to FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf, this action could prevent 8.5 million tobacco-related deaths by 2100 and reduce the U.S. smoking rate to 1.4% by 2060. The FDA's proposal comes in the final days of the Biden administration, and its implementation would depend on the incoming Trump administration. The tobacco industry, including companies like Reynolds American and Altria, is expected to challenge the rule in court if it moves forward. The proposal is open for public comment for 240 days.