This summer, the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association has introduced bills in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate to exempt both large and premium cigars from possible Food and Drug Administration tobacco regulations. The bill introduced in the U.S. House is H.R. 1639 and the bill introduced in the U.S. Senate is S. 1461.
Specifically, the bills state: "Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to grant the Secretary authority to promulgate regulations on any matter that involves traditional large and premium cigars." The legislation also defines traditional large and [image-nocss] premium cigars as (1) any roll of tobacco that is wrapped solely in leaf tobacco, contains no filter, and weighs at least 6 pounds per 1,000 count and (2) does not include a cigarette or a little cigar as defined under federal law.
The House version of the bill has been assigned to the House Subcommittee on Health and the Senate version of the legislation has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Both bills are awaiting further action in these committees.
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