FDA submits proposal to ban menthol cigarettes

After many years of delay and a directive from a federal judge, on February 25, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) submitted its proposed rule to ban menthol as a characterizing flavor in tobacco products to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), a necessary step before publicly proposing the rule. In April 2021, a federal judge ordered the FDA to propose a rule banning menthol within one year. There has been broad support for the FDA to ban menthol, and that court deadline is coming up in late April 2022. We will continue to monitor federal movement on this issue and keep grantees informed. For more information, please contact your TA provider at the Policy + System Change Network.