Tobacco Remains Strong as Regulations Take Hold

NEW YORK -- Although cigarettes have spent the most time under the microscope at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), other tobacco products have gained headway under less scrutiny.

David Howard, director of communications at Reynolds America Inc. is optimistic that the market for dissolvable tobacco lozenges is growing, according to Marketwire. "These products provide smokers with an option to enjoy the pleasure of nicotine without bothering others," Howard said. "No secondhand smoke. No spitting. No cigarette butt."

The tobacco industry believes these products contain far fewer cancer causing chemicals, and are a "harm reduction" strategy that could help people turn to less risky tobacco habits or eventually quit smoking, the news outlet reported.

But even though new FDA regulations handed down focus on cigarettes -- such as the new nine graphic warning labels for all cigarette packages and advertising -- the agency's Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee began its required review of dissolvable products at its meeting yesterday, July 21. The meeting, which had R. J. Reynolds and Star Scientific making presentations to the committee, continues today. TPSAC must submit a report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services by March 23, 2012 -- which is a year to the date that the same committee made a nonbinding recommendation that "the removal of menthol cigarettes from the marketplace would benefit the public health in the United States."

R.J. Reynolds introduced its Camel Dissolvable product line in2009 and the Camel Strips, Camel Sticks and Camel Orbs are in their second round of test markets. Star Scientific could be considered the father of dissolvable products in the United States. It was first to market with a dissolvable tobacco lozenge, Ariva, in 2001.

 

X
This ad will auto-close in 10 seconds