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On this page:

• FDA Regulation of Cigarettes
• Manufacturing Cigarettes
• Retail Sales of Cigarettes
• Importing Cigarettes
• Reporting Adverse Experiences and Product Violations

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The basic components of most cigarettes are tobacco, chemical additives, a filter, and paper wrapping. Cigarettes are responsible for the vast majority of all tobacco-related disease and death in the United States. Smokers are exposed to a toxic mix of over 7,000 chemicals when they inhale cigarette smoke.¹ The harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke can damage nearly every organ in the body.²  Nonsmokers are exposed to many of these same chemicals through secondhand smoke.

FDA Regulation of Cigarettes

FDA regulates the manufacture, import, packaging, labeling, advertising, promotion, sale, and distribution of cigarettes, including components, parts, and accessories, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and its implementing regulations.

In 2022, FDA issued a proposed product standard to prohibit menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes. 

Learn more about federal requirements limiting the sale, distribution, and marketing of cigarettes.

In July 2017, the FDA announced a comprehensive plan for tobacco and nicotine regulation that will serve as a multi-year roadmap to better protect kids and significantly reduce tobacco-related disease and death, including pursuing lowering nicotine in cigarettes to a minimally addictive or non-addictive levels. In April 2021, FDA announced that it plans to propose tobacco product standards to ban menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes.

Tobacco products that meet the statutory or regulatory definition of a cigarette but are not combusted (do not exceed 350 °C) are categorized as “heated tobacco products” (HTPs) for purposes of FDA's premarket review. HTPs that meet the definition of a cigarette must be in compliance with the applicable statutory and regulatory requirements for cigarettes, unless otherwise noted in a marketing authorization order. Some tobacco products may meet the definition of a cigarette and, for the purposes of premarket review, the definition of a heated tobacco product.

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Manufacturing Cigarettes

If you make, modify, mix, manufacture, fabricate, assemble, process, label, repack, relabel, or import cigarettes, you must comply with these requirements for manufacturers.

CTP’s Office of Small Business Assistance can answer specific questions about requirements of small businesses and how to comply with the law. This office also provides online educational resources to help regulated industry understand FDA regulations and policies.

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Retail Sales of Cigarettes

If you sell cigarettes, please read this summary of federal rules that retailers must follow. In addition, our website provides more information on regulations, guidance and webinars for retailers.

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Importing Cigarettes

Tobacco products imported or offered for import into the United States must comply with all the applicable requirements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). You can find more information on the Importing and Exporting webpage.

You can also learn more about the importation process in the FDA Regulatory Procedures Manual, Chapter 9, Import Operations and Actions.

If you have questions about importing a specific tobacco product, please contact the FDA district into which your product will be imported.

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Reporting Adverse Experiences and Product Violations

If you have experienced an unexpected health or safety issue with a specific tobacco product, you can report your adverse experience to FDA. Knowledge about adverse experiences can help FDA identify health or safety issues beyond those normally associated with product use.

If you believe these products are being sold to minors, or you see another potential violation of the FD&C Act or FDA’s tobacco regulations, report the potential violation. 

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Additional Resources

• Cigarette Labeling and Health Warning Requirements
• Chemicals in Cigarettes: From Plant to Product to Puff
• Small Business Assistance for Tobacco Product Industry
• Manufacturing
• Selling Tobacco Products in Retail Stores
• Menthol and Other Flavors in Tobacco Products

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