Dispelling the Myths of Tobacco Control

Dispelling the Myths of Tobacco Control

A response to the recent misleading “Deadly Alliance” report implicating convenience stores. By Seth A. Mailhot, Special Counsel, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP. This is the first of what will be a continuing series on the regulation of tobacco retailing. In future articles, I will address the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) regulation [...]

FDA Introduces Draft Guidance on MRTPs and HPHCs for Tobacco

FDA Introduces Draft Guidance on MRTPs and HPHCs for Tobacco

FDA intends to focus reporting enforcement on 20 HPHCs during 2012, and provides details for those seeking to market a tobacco product as modified or lower risk. Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released two separate draft guidance documents to “help fight the tobacco epidemic and stop children from using tobacco.” The draft [...]

Graphic Warning Labels Ruled Unconstitutional

Graphic Warning Labels Ruled Unconstitutional

Tobacco companies win lawsuit against FDA. U.S. Federal District Judge Richard Leon yesterday, Wednesday, Feb. 29, ruled that the 36 graphic cigarette warning labels the FDA sought to require tobacco manufacturers to cover cigarette packs with are unconstitutional, Adweek reported. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Lorillard Tobacco Co., Commonwealth Brands Inc., Liggett Group LLC, and Santa [...]

A Simple Tobacco Fable

A Simple Tobacco Fable

Alternative products are helping to shape the future of convenience store tobacco sets. By Lou Maiellano. Imagine, if you will, that European explorers land in Africa, North America or South America in the 14th, 15th or 16th centuries. Upon landing, these explorers find the inhabitants of these exotic new lands drinking a strange, energizing brew [...]

FDA Calls For Comments

FDA Calls For Comments

The FDA is encouraging retailers to send comments, data, research or other information related to non-face-to-face sale and distribution of tobacco products. The FDA is extending the comment period until Jan. 19, 2012, for an Advance Notice of Proposed Rule-Making (ANPRM) that was published in the Federal Register of Sept. 9, 2011 (76 FR 55835). [...]

FDA Comments on the International Tobacco Regulators’ Conference

FDA Comments on the International Tobacco Regulators’ Conference

“It is only natural that like-minded leaders band together to combat this global threat in unison,” says the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.  This week, 65 representatives of health and regulatory agencies from 22 countries attended the International Tobacco Regulators’ Conference, hosted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization [...]

FDA Issues Warning Letters To Tobacco Retailers

FDA Issues Warning Letters To Tobacco Retailers

More than 1,200 retailers that sell tobacco receive warnings about violations. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent warning letters to more than 1,200 retailers, the majority of which respond to violations relating to selling tobacco to minors, as part of its ongoing effort to reduce tobacco use among children. While most retail establishments [...]

FDA’s Requirement For Graphic Images on Cigarette Packs Blocked

FDA’s Requirement For Graphic Images on Cigarette Packs Blocked

A Federal Judge strikes down FDA’s graphic image requirement on packs of cigarettes until the lawsuit is resolved. A judge has blocked a federal mandate that would require tobacco companies to add graphic images to cigarette packages in 2012, the Associated Press reported. On Monday, Nov. 7, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled cigarette manufacturers [...]

Enhance Food Safety

Enhance Food Safety

High-temperature warewashers not only offer environmental and cost-saving benefits, they can also improve food safety by ensuring that wash and rinse temperatures always comply with the NSF and FDA Food Code minimum temperatures. Restaurant managers who want to reduce water consumption and energy costs in their operations while enhancing performance and food safety need look [...]

Seizing Control of Smokeless Sales

Seizing Control of Smokeless Sales

Convenience store retailers are still concerned over the FDA’s involvement in smokeless tobacco, but many expressed optimism that the category can continue to thrive. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. While taxes and regulations haven’t impacted sales of smokeless tobacco products as much as some had predicted, it remains up to retailers to continue aggressively marketing [...]

Senate Passes Food Safety Law

Senate Passes Food Safety Law

By a vote of 73 to 25 on Tuesday, the Senate passed the Food Safety Modernization Act, which aims to overhaul the nation’s food safety system, the New York Times reported. The law, which gives increased powers to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), comes after instances of tainted foods, including peanut butter and spinach, [...]

Monitoring Product Safety

Monitoring Product Safety

On May 24, 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched the Safety Reporting Portal (SRP) Web site, making it easier for concerned citizens and merchants alike to submit reports concerning FDA regulated products. SRP allows even customers to submit a safety report related to foods, drugs and [...]

Managing Tobacco’s  Four Tier War

Managing Tobacco’s Four Tier War

A Closer Look at Who’s Trading Down According to Mintel International, 80% of smokers polled said it’s worthwhile to have a quality cigarette, which is contributing to sales of premium cigarettes. Other factors influencing sales include: • 51% of smokers have one preferred brand they always like to buy. • Less than 2% of smokers [...]

FDA Issues Final  Rules On Tobacco

FDA Issues Final Rules On Tobacco

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released its final rules regarding the sale of tobacco. Retailers will need to be in compliance with these rules, which restrict the sale, distribution and use of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, by June 22. The new rules include provisions that: •Prohibit sales of cigarette packages with fewer than [...]

New Regulations on Tobacco from the FDA

New Regulations on Tobacco from the FDA

Over the past six months since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began wielding its new powers to regulate cigarettes, smokeless and roll-your-own tobacco, the implementation of the law has been anything but smooth. Even though Dr. Lawrence Deyton, the FDA’s new head of the Center for Tobacco Products, announced several times during “Listening [...]