U.S. proposes cigarette nicotine cut, shift toward e-cigarettes

[rooster59]

U.S. proposes cigarette nicotine cut, shift toward e-cigarettes

By Toni Clarke

 

A woman lights a cigarette in this illustration picture taken in Paris, October 8, 2014. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government proposed cutting nicotine in cigarettes to "non-addictive" levels on Friday in a major regulatory shift designed to move smokers toward potentially less harmful e-cigarettes.

 

Shares of major tobacco companies in the United States and UK slumped in heavy trading volume after the proposal was unveiled by the head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, with the world's biggest producers losing about $26 billion of market value.

 

"Nicotine itself is not responsible for the cancer, the lung disease and heart disease that kill hundreds of thousands of Americans each year," FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said.

 

"It's the other chemical compounds in tobacco and in the smoke created by setting tobacco on fire that directly cause illness and death."

 

The FDA cannot reduce nicotine levels to zero, nor can it ban cigarettes. But Gottlieb said the agency would study regulating nicotine levels with a view toward the "FDA's potential to render cigarettes minimally addictive or non-addictive."

 

Analysts said they expect regulators in Europe to study similar actions on nicotine products.

 

The action shakes up a debate among public health advocates as to whether e-cigarettes represent a health risk or potential benefit.

 

"While there's still much research to be done on these products and the risks that they may pose, they may also present benefits that we must consider," Gottlieb said.

 

Gottlieb, a cancer survivor and physician who was confirmed as FDA Commmmissioner on May 9, was expected to be friendly toward the e-cigarette industry since he previously held a financial interest in a so-called "vape" shop called Kure.

 

During an April hearing on whether to advance his nomination for the FDA position, he said some e-cigarettes may have the potential to wean smokers off combustible cigarettes and be less harmful.

 

The FDA's announcement sets in motion a lengthy rule-making process that will involve public comment and input from multiple stakeholders before any measures take effect.

 

"It’s hard to overstate what this could mean for the companies affected: non-addictive levels of nicotine would likely mean a lot fewer smokers and of those people who do still light up, smoking a lot less," said Neil Wilson, a senior market analyst with ETX Capital in London.

 

Most big tobacco makers have long seen the writing on the wall and have invested in e-cigarettes and other alternative nicotine delivery systems, potentially mitigating the blow from any decline in cigarette sales.

 

"We see this as an opportune entry point for long-term investors and would recommend building positions on today's broad weakness," Bonnie Herzog, an analyst at Wells Fargo Securities said in a research report, noting that the FDA is currently reviewing IQOS, a product from Altria Group Inc <MO.N> and Philip Morris International <PM.N> that heats tobacco instead of burning it.

 

For e-cigarettes, the agency extended the deadline by up to four years, and up to three years for cigar companies, to comply with a 2016 rule that gave the FDA oversight over the products, giving them more time on the market without regulation.

 

Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said the FDA's proposal "represents a bold and comprehensive vision with the potential to accelerate progress in reducing tobacco use and death."

 

But he added that the extension of e-cigarette deadlines "will allow egregious, kid-friendly e-cigarettes and cigars, in flavors like gummy bear, cherry crush and banana smash, to stay on the market with little public health oversight."

 

Gottlieb said the FDA would consider regulating "kid-appealing flavors" in e-cigarettes and cigars, and possibly banning menthol in all tobacco products.

 

British American Tobacco <BATS.L> shares, trading close to all-time highs, fell 6.8 percent to post their biggest one-day loss in nine 9 years.

Altria, which makes the Marlboro brand of cigarettes, closed down 9.5 percent.

 

British American said it was not surprised by the FDA move to cut nicotine.

 

"Our American subsidiary, Reynolds American Inc. and its operating companies are encouraged by FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb’s comments today recognising tobacco harm reduction policies and the continuum of risk for tobacco products," the company said in a statement.

 

Gottlieb also held out the possibility that premium cigars would be exempted from FDA oversight, but the overall outlook for traditional tobacco products appeared grim.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-07-29

[darksidedog]

It shows how backward Thailand is. The advanced world is looking to move away from chemical filled cigarettes and onto e-cigarettes as they are significantly less harmful, but in Thailand they are illegal. Dumb as a box of spanners these people.

[HarrySeaman]

A tiny step in the right direction.  Should also be  non-addictive levels of nicotine in cigars, smokeless tobacco (snuff and chewing), and in e-cigarettes.  Perhaps if they eliminate the reason for using tobacco then they will also eliminate the heath costs and expense of some extremely nasty habits.

 

Who knows, if the world keeps going this way then one day it might even be okay to breath while in a bar or restaurant in Thailand.

[mark01]

While Thailand do all they can to stop E-cigarettes and keep collecting big cigarette tax.

[coulson]

A positive piece of news. How about also regulating the amount of uneccesary carcinogens also.

Good news for the e cig movement. Take all the low grade uncontrolled crap fluids off the street that give the high quality producers a bad name.

Expect it could take some time before this sort of news actually starts to make sense around this part of the world.

[ilostmypassword]

It certainly seems like one good thing the Trump administration is doing. Let's see if it actually happens.

[phantomfiddler]

U,S. is trying to promote E-Cigarettes while Thailand is trying to penalize users of this obviously healthier option. Three quesses on who is in the wrong here. Real men just quit, man up !

[ilostmypassword]

45 minutes ago, jobwolf said:

Now stupidity can go both ways. It is proven that e-cigarettes are more harmful then normal ones.

American politics can not come more stupid then they are already. the FDA is one of the most corrupt Government departments anywhere in the world. Everything harmful and destructive can be bought or approved in the USA with the right money. They can not lead a pack of rats, never mind a country or the world.

Where is this proven? Can you provide a link. All the stuff I googled on the web indicated that they were less harmful.

[YetAnother]

""kid-appealing flavors" in e-cigarettes and cigars, "

Doesnt that sound Ultra business like?

now we're going to have kids smoking cigars;

Ugly visual

Edited July 29, 2017 by YetAnother

[halloween]

Non-addictive levels of nicotine, from the people that brought you "light" cigarettes. The only difference was holes near the filter, allowing air to be sucked in and lowering the percentage of carcinogens. Smokers soon worked out how to place their fingers to block the holes.

http://www.quitsmokingsupport.com/lowtar.htm

"...... research shows that the only proven way to reduce the disease risks from smoking is to quit. "

[ilostmypassword]

11 minutes ago, halloween said:

Non-addictive levels of nicotine, from the people that brought you "light" cigarettes. The only difference was holes near the filter, allowing air to be sucked in and lowering the percentage of carcinogens. Smokers soon worked out how to place their fingers to block the holes.

http://www.quitsmokingsupport.com/lowtar.htm

"...... research shows that the only proven way to reduce the disease risks from smoking is to quit. "

Health Effects of Light and Intermittent Smoking: A Review

 For daily smokers (> 20 cig/day), the risk of dying from lung cancer is more than 23 times higher in men and about 13 times higher in women than nonsmokers (1). The risks for light smokers, while lower, are still substantial. Women between the ages of 35 and 49 who smoke 1 – 4 cig/day have 5 times the risk of developing lung cancer (RR 5.0, 95% CI 1.8 to 14.0) and men have 3 times the risk (RR 2.8, 95% CI 0.9 to 8.3) as nonsmokers (28).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2865193/

[Pikeybkk]

6 hours ago, darksidedog said:

It shows how backward Thailand is. The advanced world is looking to move away from chemical filled cigarettes and onto e-cigarettes as they are significantly less harmful, but in Thailand they are illegal. Dumb as a box of spanners these people.

Backhanders dictate policy

[ChiangMaiLightning2143]

I don't smoke anything and I think there isn't enough research on vaping to call it safe but it is certainly less harmful than cigarettes! But here "illegal and dangerous".

 

 

 

 

[superal]

7 hours ago, darksidedog said:

It shows how backward Thailand is. The advanced world is looking to move away from chemical filled cigarettes and onto e-cigarettes as they are significantly less harmful, but in Thailand they are illegal. Dumb as a box of spanners these people.

Give them a break pal , they are still evolving

[superal]

6 hours ago, phantomfiddler said:

U,S. is trying to promote E-Cigarettes while Thailand is trying to penalize users of this obviously healthier option. Three quesses on who is in the wrong here. Real men just quit, man up !

There are 3 things that I have enjoyed all my life , they are sex , beer and smoking , all for the last 55 years .  I tried to stop all 3 of them to make me a better person but it turned me into a boring axxhole .  Guess I will go on doing all the things that I should not do . If you are going to quit smoking I think it is much better when you are younger to really derive the health benefits . Trying to quit when older brings stress big time which in itself is a major killer . Nicotine addiction is said to be greater than heroine , I have respect for guys who have quit cos it sure aint easy . Most I held out for was 8 weeks .    

[Scott]

One completely unsourced allegation has been removed as well as a reply.   Please stay on topic.