Proposed Menthol Ban in Cigarettes, Cigars Cleared for Release

Long-awaited proposals to ban menthol in cigarettes and cigars have cleared White House review and can be published at any time.

The first rule (RIN 0910-AI60) from the FDA would prohibit tobacco manufacturers and retailers from making, distributing, and selling cigarettes containing menthol as a flavor. The second (RIN 0910-AI28) proposes a ban on all characterizing flavors, including menthol, in cigars. Both were approved Thursday by the Office of Management and Budget.

The Food and Drug Administration announced in April 2021 that it planned to pursue the menthol bans as part of its efforts to reduce disease and death caused by combusted tobacco product use and address tobacco-related health disparities. Anti-tobacco groups and lawmakers have long called for the FDA to take action on smoking products with menthol flavoring, which are disproportionately used by Black Americans and other minority groups.

Menthol flavoring gives cigarettes a minty taste and soothes the throat, but the FDA has warned that it can also make smoking more addictive and appealing, especially to young people.