Trump Administration Withdraws FDA's Proposed Ban on Menthol Cigarettes and Flavored Cigars on Jan. 21

Jan 24, 2025, 03:35 PM

The Trump administration has withdrawn a proposed ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, marking a significant policy shift that impacts public health and the tobacco industry. The decision, formalized on January 21, 2025, reverses a rule proposed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2022, which aimed to ban these products due to their high addictiveness and appeal to young smokers. The withdrawal of the ban is seen as a setback for health regulators and activists who have been advocating for reduced smoking rates, particularly among Black communities where menthol cigarettes have a disproportionate impact. The move is expected to benefit cigarette companies such as Altria and British American Tobacco, which had faced potential revenue losses in the billions of dollars from the proposed ban.