The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday delayed rules that would ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars in what many see as a nod to the intense lobbying and fragile political environment heading into President Joe Biden’s expected 2024 rematch with former President Donald Trump.
The administration signaled the decision by updating its regulatory agenda to bump the rules from their original target date in August to March 2024. The White House Office of Management and Budget has scheduled meetings on the rules with lobbyists and advocates through January.
A spokesperson said the agency “remains committed” to finalizing the rules “as expeditiously as possible,” but did not offer a reason for the delay.
