Biden Administration is considering a rule to lower nicotine in all cigarettes sold in the U.S, according to the Wall Street Journal. The move aims at pushing millions of U.S smokers to quit or switch to less harmful alternatives.
Administration officials are considering the policy as a deadline for declaring intentions of whether or not to ban menthol cigarettes approaches.
The Food and Drug administration has until April 29th to respond to a citizens’ petition to ban menthols.
The Biden administration is weighing whether to move forward on a menthol ban or a nicotine reduction in all cigarettes or both.
Nicotine reduction policy would lower the chemical in cigarettes to non-addictive or minimally addictive levels.
Any action that the FDA takes must be based on science and evidence and must consider the real-world consequence of such actions.
Marlboro maker Altria Group Inc.’s shares fell more than 6% Monday afternoon on the news of the Biden administration’s deliberations.
Lowering nicotine in cigarettes has been a subject of discussion since the 1990s. Altria stock is currently declining, MO: NYSE is down by 5.66% on premarket.
