Friday, the FDA announced that it would be extending the public comment period opening from 60 to 90 days ending on August 2nd. This week PCA joined industry allies in requesting an extension but appealed for a 180-day extension so that the FDA could conduct better small business economic impacts studies and a study on the effects to international commerce and trade agreements. This week the FDA also hosted two listening sessions on the proposed rules on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. PCA requested to participate in the listening session but was denied speaking time at either session.
“The FDA is mismanaging this process from the start. You have two very separate proposed rules, but they are being conflated together resulting in two 8-hour webinars where speakers are cherry-picked by the FDA with a lobsided majority cheerleading the regulations on” say Scott Pearce PCA Executive Director. “Denying an industry stakeholder, the opportunity to ask questions, challenge faulty assertions, and provide membership feedback is unacceptable.”
PCA will be submitting a comment to the public docket calling for the FDA to withdraw the proposed rule and is encouraging retailers and consumers to also weigh in against the rule through the web portal fightflavorbans.com. “The FDA is not going to have time to conduct the appropriate research that we are requesting for this propose rule, but the 30-day extension will provide more retailers the opportunity to weigh in against the flavor ban at the PCA 2022 Tradeshow and engage their consumers for more time.” says Habursky.
