The Biden government is considering requiring tobacco companies to lower the nicotine levels in all cigarettes sold in the US to levels that are no longer addictive, according to people familiar with the matter.
Administration officials are considering the policy as they approach a deadline to explain the government’s intentions in another tobacco issue: whether or not menthol cigarettes are banned.
The Food and Drug Administration must respond in court by April 29 to a request from citizens to ban menthols by announcing whether the agency intends to pursue such a policy. The Biden government is now considering whether there is a ban on menthol or a reduction in nicotine in all cigarettes – or both, the people familiar with the matter said.
The White House and the FDA did not immediately comment on Monday.
The nicotine reduction policy under consideration will reduce the chemical in cigarettes to non-addictive or minimally addictive levels, with the aim of pushing millions of smokers to quit or switch to less harmful alternatives such as nicotine gum, lozenges or e-cigarettes. However, a ban on menthol aims to limit the onset of smoking among young people, many of whom start with menthols. Both policies will take years to implement and are likely to face legal challenges.