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.  

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT on June 13 and June 15, FDA will hold virtual listening sessions to give the public an opportunity to verbally 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 aims to make the sessions as inclusive as possible and to create an opportunity to hear a range of ideas and perspectives. While anyone may request to provide open public comment during the sessions, FDA is especially interested in hearing from those with relevant lived experience and those who may be less likely, or less able, to provide formal written comments through the standard docket submission process.

Live closed captioning and ASL interpreters will be provided during the listening sessions. If you have issues registering or have any questions, please email [email protected] or call 1-877-CTP-1373 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. EDT. 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.   

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Registration 

The listening sessions are free and open to the public. They will be accessible by computer or phone. 

Interested in requesting to provide comments?
Please register and submit your request to provide open public comment before June 6, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Speaking spots are limited, and we cannot guarantee we’ll be able to accommodate all requests. We ask that groups and organizations select a single spokesperson to help us hear as many different perspectives as possible.  

Due to the expected high volume of requests to speak, FDA cannot accommodate requests to speak at a specific time. FDA endeavors to provide as much communication and notification for confirmed speakers as possible and will notify confirmed speakers with their speaking assignment via email as soon as possible. Speaking spots are limited to 5 minutes. 

Interested in joining but not commenting? 
Listen-only spots are unlimited, but prior registration is required. Registration will remain open until 3:30 p.m. EDT on both event days. You can register for one or both sessions. However, you must register for each session separately. 

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

Register for June 13 session | Register for June 15 session

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Additional Resources 

• Tobacco Product Standard for Menthol in Cigarettes (Docket No. FDA-2021-N-1349)
• Tobacco Product Standard for Characterizing Flavors in Cigars (Docket No. FDA-2021-N-1309)
• 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 

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