Bill > HR2111

This bill seeks to exempt premium cigars from certain regulations under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by creating a specific definition for "premium cigars" and excluding them from tobacco product regulations. Based on findings from a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) expert committee report, the bill highlights that premium cigars comprise only 1% of cigars sold in the US, are primarily used by adults, and pose potentially lower health risks compared to other tobacco products. To qualify as a "premium cigar," a product must meet eight specific criteria, including being wrapped in whole tobacco leaf, handmade or hand-rolled, containing only tobacco, water, and vegetable gum, having no filter or characterizing flavor other than tobacco, and weighing over 6 pounds per 1,000 units. The bill notes that most premium cigar manufacturers are family-owned small businesses, and these cigars are typically sold in age-controlled retail establishments. The legislation is supported by research suggesting that premium cigar users are less likely to be frequent smokers, less likely to inhale smoke, and represent a very small percentage of the smoking population.

Business and Industry

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2111/all-info