The FDA Goes After Nicotine

In its waning days, the Biden administration is angling to make a big move against cigarettes' addictive nature. On Wednesday, the FDA released a proposed rule that would slash the allowable nicotine in cigarettes to 0.7 milligrams per gram of tobacco, reports USA Today—levels that "could no longer create and sustain this addiction among people who smoke." CBS News reports the average cigarette contains 17.2 milligrams per gram. More:

• The FDA's expectations: The agency said years of research suggest that cutting nicotine levels would help almost 13 million of the nation's 30 million current smokers quit cigarettes within a year, per the AP. By the year 2100, an estimated 48 million more young people would never start smoking because cigarettes would be rendered nonaddictive, the FDA predicts, per the New York Times.
• Standout quote from the FDA: "This action, if finalized, could save many lives and dramatically reduce the burden of severe illness and disability, while also saving huge amounts of money," FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said in a statement, per the AP.
• Standout quote from Reynolds American: A rep for the cigarette manufacturer tells the Times that the FDA's proposed rule would "effectively eliminate legal cigarettes and fuel an already massive illicit nicotine market. These actions would also have a significant negative economic impact on farmers, retailers, and others."

• The chances: The AP paints the likelihood of the rule coming to pass anytime soon as low. Though CBS News reports the measure was initially suggested under the first Trump administration, it's unclear whether a second will back the move once the nine-month comment period ends; the Times notes that President-elect Trump's super PAC got millions from various tobacco companies. Should the proposal go through, tobacco companies would be given years to reformulate their products—and would undoubtedly mount a court challenge first.
• The law: Current law gives the FDA power to regulate nicotine, but not to remove it completely. The proposed limits would apply to cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco, but not to e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches like Zyn, or premium cigars, reports USA Today.
• The science: Nicotine occurs naturally in tobacco plants. Removing it could be accomplished through chemical extraction or crossbreeding plants, per the AP.
• What's not in the 334-page proposal: The Times reports the FDA's effort to ban menthol cigarettes has been shelved indefinitely after major pushback from opponents ranging from cigarette-makers to convenience store owners.

(More nicotine stories.)