Trump Administration Withdraws FDA Plan to Ban Menthol Cigarettes

The decision reverses a proposed regulation targeting menthol cigarettes over health concerns, with significant implications for public health and business interests.

The FDA's proposed ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, introduced in 2022, has been officially withdrawn by the Trump administration as of January 21, 2025.
Health advocates have criticized the decision, citing the addictive nature of menthol cigarettes and their disproportionate impact on Black communities and other marginalized groups.
The Biden administration had delayed the ban's implementation multiple times, reportedly holding meetings with groups opposing the regulation, including business owners and civil rights advocates.
Opponents of the ban argued it could harm small businesses, with convenience stores projected to lose billions in sales annually, and potentially fuel an illicit tobacco market, as seen in California's menthol ban.
Cigarette manufacturers, including Altria and British American Tobacco, stood to lose significant revenue from the ban, which would have affected a third of the U.S. cigarette market.