US: Meeting Held to Discuss Delay of Banning Menthol Cigarettes

According to a report by thehill, there has been a recent meeting between US government officials and public health leaders. This meeting took place following the US government's decision to delay the ban on flavored menthol cigarettes.

The meeting, which was not publicly announced, was not officially included in the public agenda. However, government officials had previously held a meeting with tobacco industry lobbyists, including some former senators, last month, in opposition to the proposed ban. Two weeks later, the White House officially announced that the ban would be postponed until at least March.

The online conference held this Tuesday, initiated by the "Smoke-Free Youth" campaign, was attended by officials including Robert Califf, the Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Xavier Becerra, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Neera Tanden, the White House Domestic Policy Advisor.

According to feedback from attendees, the organization of the meeting took place after the announcement of the delay in the ban, during which public health officials questioned industry lobbyists on the reasons behind their ability to meet with senior government officials.

In attendance among public health and civil rights leaders were Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); David Satcher, former advocate for disease prevention and the first African American Surgeon General of the United States; Louis Sullivan, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); Yolanda Lawson, Chair of the American Medical Association; as well as board leaders from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Lung Association, and the American Heart Association.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which is responsible for regulatory actions, needs to hold meetings with stakeholders interested in the proposed regulations. These meetings are held to gather opinions and are typically not attended by senior officials.

Since October, the OMB has held multiple meetings with external organizations regarding policies, including retailers, civil rights groups, and law enforcement officials. According to records, nearly all of the meetings have been with organizations opposed to the ban.

The public health organization has been warning that the White House may under pressure decide to indefinitely delay the regulation, especially against the backdrop of Joe Biden's reelection bid as president.

According to the initially planned schedule, the new regulations were supposed to be released in August, but were later postponed until the end of the year. As part of its regulatory plan, the White House has now set a new target date for March 2024.

The ban on menthol cigarettes has been under consideration for more than a decade and, once implemented, will be one of the most impactful policies since the US FDA began regulating tobacco in 2009. Health officials and tobacco control advocates have stated that this action could potentially save thousands of lives, particularly among African American smokers.

According to an FDA report, approximately 85% of African American smokers prefer menthol cigarettes, compared to only 30% among white smokers.

However, the proposal of the ban has sparked disagreement among some influential black lawmakers and community members. Critics argue that this foreshadows a longstanding industry practice aimed at targeting black communities and forming alliances with leaders to create chaos.