According to the Associated Press on April 27th, the Biden administration has indefinitely postponed the anticipated ban on menthol cigarettes. This decision has angered anti-smoking advocates but may help avoid a political backlash from Black voters in November.
In a statement issued on Friday (26th), Biden's top health official did not provide a timeline for the release of the rule, only stating that the government will take more time to consider feedback, including feedback from civil rights organizations.
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra stated in a declaration, "Clearly, we still have more conversations to have, which will require more time."
In recent months, the White House has held dozens of meetings with groups opposed to the ban, including civil rights organizations, law enforcement officials, and small business owners. Many of these groups have financial ties to tobacco companies.
The announcement dealt a blow to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which had drafted the ban and projected that it would prevent tens of thousands of deaths caused by smoking-related diseases over the course of 40 years. The agency has been working to ban menthol cigarettes for many government terms but has not yet finalized the rules.
Yolonda Richardson, of the "Smoke-Free Kids Campaign," stated in an email that "this decision prioritizes politics over lives, especially Black lives." She noted that the ban is supported by organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Congressional Black Caucus.
Prior to this, the FDA's efforts regarding menthol cigarettes have been hindered by opposition from the tobacco industry or political priorities. As both Biden and former President Donald Trump sought support from African American voters, both the Republican and Democratic parties will carefully examine the potential impact of the ban before the fall elections.
The FDA released a draft of the ban in 2022. Officials under the Biden administration had initially planned to finalize the rule in August of last year. By the end of last year, White House officials indicated they would review the measure in March of this year. However, when the deadline passed last month, some anti-smoking groups filed a lawsuit to compel the release of the regulations.
FDA spokesperson Jim McKinney stated on Friday (26th) that the agency remains committed to banning menthol cigarettes.
We have clearly stated that these product standards have always been a top priority for us.
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