WASHINGTON -- House lawmakers recently reintroduced a new version of a bill that would pull premium cigars out from under the ominous FDA “deeming” rules, easing potential restrictions on new product development.
Earlier this month, Rep. Bill Posey, R-Fla., above, reintroduced the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act, according to the Washington, D.C.-based International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR). The legislation’s purpose is to both define what constitutes a “premium cigar” and exempts the product category from regulations now in place under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) final rule, IPCPR officials said.
The bill is identical to its predecessor in the 114th Congress, HR 662, which had the support of 170 members of the House of Representatives. Like HR 662 and similar, previous bills, Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., is again serving as the primary Democrat co-sponsor on the legislation.
Under the provisions of the act, a cigar is “premium” and exempt from the rule if it meets several strict definitions ...