Over the summer, while Congress was on its annual August recess and Members were back in their districts meeting with constituents, Cigar Rights of America (CRA) stayed hard at work. During this time, we met with congressional staff to press for support of H.R. 2111, the CIGAR Act, a bill that would establish a clear federal definition for premium cigars and exempt them from Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.

Now that Congress has returned, lawmakers face a packed fall agenda, which includes funding the government ahead of the September 30th deadline, finalizing the National Defense Authorization Act, reauthorizing key FDA user fee programs, and more. While Congress’s priorities will be focused on many important issues, CRA will continue pressing for support and passage of H.R. 2111.

At its core, H.R. 2111 is straightforward but essential; it codifies a federal definition of premium cigars and exempts them from the regulatory framework applied to mass-market tobacco products.

Why This Matters

Premium cigars are not the type of product the FDA was designed to regulate. They are handcrafted, whole-leaf tobacco products made by skilled artisans and enjoyed occasionally by informed adults, not mass-produced tobacco products associated with significant public health risks or underage use.

Yet despite a federal court ruling that vacated the FDA’s authority over premium cigars, the lack of permanent legislative protections leaves the industry exposed. Without a clear statutory definition that exempts premium cigars from FDA’s regulatory authority, the Agency could revive the regulatory process. This could, in return, bring back costly premarket reviews and numerous burdensome compliance requirements that small, family-owned businesses simply cannot afford to navigate.

The CIGAR Act is critical to preventing this action and protecting these businesses, the backbone of the premium cigar industry. Many have operated for generations, employing thousands across the U.S. and in key partner nations like Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras.

What the CIGAR Act Does

Codifies the following definition of “premium cigar” in line with what federal courts have already recognized: a premium cigar is (1) wrapped in whole tobacco leaf; (2) contains a 100 percent leaf tobacco binder; (3) contains at least 50 percent (of the filler by weight) long filler tobacco (i.e., whole tobacco leaves that run the length of the cigar); (4) is handmade or hand rolled (i.e., no machinery was used apart from simple tools, such as scissors to cut the tobacco prior to rolling); (5) has no filter, nontobacco tip, or nontobacco mouthpiece; (6) does not have a characterizing flavor other than tobacco; (7) contains only tobacco, water, and vegetable gum with no other ingredients or additives; and (8) weighs more than 6 pounds per 1,000 units.
Exempts premium cigars from inappropriate FDA regulation that was never designed with them in mind.
Protects small businesses from regulatory costs that serve no meaningful public health purpose.
Ensures long-term stability for manufacturers, importers, retailers, and consumers alike.

A Sensible Solution

The CIGAR Act offers Congress a chance to do something rare, pass a bipartisan, evidence-based, and economically sensible piece of legislation that exempts premium cigars from FDA regulation, protects small businesses, respects adult choice, and restores common sense to federal tobacco regulation.

Cigar Rights of America urges all members of Congress to support this legislation. If you’re a consumer, retailer, or manufacturer, now is the time to contact your Representative and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 2111.

Take action now, and sign our petition urging Congress to support and pass H.R. 2111.

The post Congress Returns & CRA Continues the Push for a Federal Definition of Premium Cigars appeared first on Cigar Rights.