Date: June 13 & 15
Time: TBD
Organized by: FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products

Proposed Regulations to Establish Tobacco Product Standards for Menthol in Cigarettes and Characterizing Flavors in Cigars: Listening Sessions Overview
FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) recently proposed two product standards: one that would prohibit menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes and another that would prohibit characterizing flavors (other than tobacco) in all cigars.

On June 13 and 15, FDA will hold virtual listening sessions to give the public an opportunity to provide open public comment on the proposed product standards. During each listening session, FDA will begin with an overview of the proposed rules. Then registered speakers will share their comments on topics related to the product standards. FDA is especially interested to hear from those individuals or communities who may be less likely or less able to provide formal written comments through the standard process of docket submission.

Live closed captioning will be provided during the listening sessions. As soon as transcripts are available, they will be accessible through the dockets as well as on this page. 

Please note: In addition to these meetings, the public can submit electronic or written comments to the docket for each proposed product standard. Please visit the Federal Register Notice for the “Tobacco Product Standard for Menthol in Cigarettes” or “Tobacco Product Standard for Characterizing Flavors in Cigars” for more information about submitting comments.  

Registration
The listening sessions will be free and open to the public. Please check back in the coming weeks for registration information, including details on how to request to provide comments during the listening sessions.  

All requests to provide open public comment must be received by June 6, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. 

For more information or questions, please e-mail [email protected].  

Additional Resources

• FDA Proposes Rules Prohibiting Menthol Cigarettes and Flavored Cigars to Prevent Youth Initiation, Significantly Reduce Tobacco-Related Disease and Death
• Fact Sheet: Proposed product standards to prohibit menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes and all characterizing flavors (other than tobacco) in cigars
• FDA Commits to Evidence-Based Actions Aimed at Saving Lives and Preventing Future Generations of Smokers