EXECUTIVES at big tobacco companies breathed a collective sigh of relief last month when the government dropped plans to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes.
Their upbeat mood proved short-lived. Within days they had a new battle on their hands. And this time, they are fighting over the cigarettes themselves, not the wrapping.
In a long-awaited report, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the American regulator, stated it is “likely” menthol flavor cigarettes pose a health risk “above that seen with non-menthol cigarettes”.
The report was published as a possible clampdown looms in Europe, where policymakers are pushing hard to outlaw flavored tobacco. Menthol cigarettes have become the latest target in their efforts to restrict the sale of tobacco — and the report is likely to speed up manufacturers’ efforts to develop alternatives to traditional tobacco products.
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