CRA Challenges FDA's Proposed Tobacco Products Manufacturing Practice (TPMP) Rule At TPSAC Session

[jefslat]

Today, the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) convened a session to review the FDA’s proposed Tobacco Product Manufacturing Practice rule (TPMP). The Committee is composed of scientific experts and provides recommendations to the Agency under the terms set out by the Tobacco Control Act.

As we have previously alerted you, the FDA proposal under consideration would set extensive requirements for premium cigar manufacturers. The rule would likely require extensive soil and water testing, finished product testing, complete traceability of all tobacco components, recordkeeping, and other new mandates.

CRA continues to vigorously engage to make our industry’s concerns known as FDA’s rulemaking advances. At today’s session, CRA was represented by Andrew Perraut of Radiant Strategies. We expressed our concerns over a fundamental lack of scientific support for the requirements that FDA has proposed, and requested that TPSAC recommend that premium cigars be exempted from any final rule. Our comments on this matter have also been filed with the Committee and can be seen here.

In addition to our comments, we note that Harvard professor and public health advocate Lisa Robinson explicitly advised the Committee to exempt premium cigars from FDA regulation.

Today’s presentation was an important step in the process, but CRA will continue to work to prevent unnecessary requirements from being applied to our industry. Importantly, this Committee makes recommendations only on matters of science. We will file additional comments on matters of law and policy as the rulemaking proceeds over the course of the summer. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns about this matter.