If tobacco taxes and smoking laws weren’t enough, the FDA entered the picture around 6 years ago and threatened the cigar smokers very way of life. They attempted to rule how the cigar industry should conduct business, but their thinking was severely flawed as they put cigarettes and cigars on the same playing field, which was wrong and disastrous in so many ways.
So, one of their rulings was to place huge warning labels on every box of cigars, labels that would warn us that “cigar smoking can cause cancers of the mouth and throat, even if you do not inhale” – “cigars are not a safe alternative to cigarettes” – “Tobacco smoke increases the risk of lung cancer and heart disease, even in nonsmokers”, among others. And these labels were to cover around 1/3 of every package. Some manufacturers started posting those hideous labels but then the cigar industry brought a lawsuit against the FDA and the law was put on hold – until now…
Enter U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta, who has just ruled that the FDA can NOT make the cigar industry apply these labels. He ruled that the FDA’s warning label plan is arbitrary and capricious and violates the Administrative Procedure Act, the very law that dictates how executive agencies determine and enforce rules.
Bottom line: Judge Mehta tore the FDA a new one.
What Mehta’s ruling basically says is that the warnings had everything to do with cigarettes and no studies have been done to prove that these so-called labels should be adhered to cigar packaging. The FDA cannot tell you the definition of a premium cigar, so how can they make warning labels a must? Mehta also bitch-slapped the FDA for lacking conclusive evidence about the health dangers of smoking cigars! THIS is finally some awesome news for all lovers of the leaf.
When the FDA first came up with what they wanted to rule over in the cigar industry, it was beyond horrifying. They planned on: Controlling the blending process, Controlling nicotine content, Ban walk-in humidors, Cigars were to be hidden in a back room where customers would point to what they wanted in a folder, Banning cigar art and labels, and ban mail ordering of cigars. Finally, it seems that the cigar world has seen some much-needed daylight.
But the real take away from this whole ruling is that if there isn’t enough evidence to place warning labels on cigars, maybe, just maybe there isn’t enough evidence to back ANY of the FDA’s claims against the cigar industry. Not only does that make total sense, it’s the industry’s hope for even more victorious decisions.
Wow… this is awesome, totally awesome.
THIS MONTH’S SWEEPSTAKES GIVEAWAY!
This month, cigar maker Alec Bradley is giving away 3 amazing prizes…
3 GRAND PRIZE WINNERS will be chosen to WIN the following…
Alec Bradley Burner Lighter – $49.99 in value
Alec Bradley Firkin Humidor – $74.95 in value
Alec Bradley MEGA Burner Lighter $79.99 in value
It’s running ‘til the end of the month and all you’ve got to do is put your email address in the form and you are officially in the running!