The Biden administration has announced a delay in implementing regulations that would ban menthol cigarettes. The decision comes after facing widespread opposition to the proposed ban. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra stated that the agency would not move forward with finalizing the regulations due to significant feedback received during the public comment period, particularly from civil rights activists.
The regulations, initially proposed by the FDA two years ago, aimed to ban menthol cigarettes as part of President Biden's Cancer Moonshot initiative. The FDA argued that such a ban would reduce the appeal of cigarettes and have substantial health benefits. However, the regulations were delayed by the White House Office of Management and Budget, missing several deadlines for final approval.
