On August 22, 2019, Troutman Sanders will host the Tobacco Merchants Association / Vapor Voice conference entitled “Finding Direction – Navigating PMTAs.” The conference will address the FDA premarket tobacco application process for electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). The conference will be held in our Richmond office and Bryan Haynes will be one of the
FDA Announces New Proposed Rule re Graphic Cigarette Warnings for Packaging and Advertisements
On Thursday, August 15, 2019, the Food & Drug Administration published for public comment a new proposed rule covering cigarette labeling and advertising. The proposed rule, Required Warnings for Cigarette Packages and Advertisements, would require, once finalized, new health warnings on cigarette packages and in advertisements to promote greater public understanding of the negative health
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Expresses Concerns About Therapeutically Marketed CBD Products
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to be concerned about the proliferation of products containing CBD that are marketed for therapeutic or medical uses that have not been approved by the FDA. On Tuesday, July 23, 2019, FDA issued a press release announcing it has issued a warning letter to Curaleaf Inc., of Wakefield, Massachusetts, alleging the company illegally sold unapproved products containing cannabidiol (CBD) online with unsubstantiated claims that the products treat cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, opioid withdrawal, pain and pet anxiety, among other conditions or diseases.
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Public Health Advocates Urge FDA to Revamp ENDS Premarket Review Process and Appeal Maryland Ruling
On the heels of a Maryland federal judge’s order advancing to May 2020 the deadline for premarket review submissions (discussed here), a group of public health advocates (led by Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller) has petitioned the Secretary of Health and Human Services to appeal the court’s decision and to revamp the premarket review process for electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).
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VIRGINIA’S GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL REITERATE CALL FOR MARIJUANA REFORM AS ARRESTS CONTINUE TO RISE
Last Thursday, July 18, 2019, Mark Herring, Virginia’s Attorney General, called again for marijuana regulatory reform in light of new data showing arrests rose in the Commonwealth last year. The Attorney General noted that in 2018 marijuana arrests accounted for 59 percent of all drug arrests in Virginia. Herring favors the decriminalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana, action to address past convictions for simple possession and a move towards legal and regulated adult use in Virginia. The Attorney General’s press release was followed the next day by a tweet from Virginia Governor Ralph Northam also urging the decriminalization of marijuana.
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Court Ruling Advances FDA Premarket Review Deadline for Deemed Tobacco Products
On July 11, a federal judge issued an important ruling that dramatically advances submission deadlines for premarket review of tobacco products. As a function of that ruling, the deadline for applications for FDA premarket review of “deemed” tobacco products (including cigars, pipe tobacco and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)) is now May 11, 2020.
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Troutman Sanders Tobacco Team Featured in June 2019 SMOKESHOP Magazine Article Regarding FDA Tobacco Product Premarket Review Enforcement
In the June 2019 edition of SMOKESHOP Magazine, Troutman Sanders attorney Bryan Haynes discusses “The FDA’s New Catch-22.” Haynes outlines the FDA’s threat to step up enforcement of premarket review requirements for “new tobacco products” while stalling on long-awaited guidance and regulations establishing the boundaries for industry submissions.
Read the article here.
Warn or Be Warned
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently sent warning letters to four firms that manufacture and market flavored e-liquid products [Letters 1, 2, 3, 4]. According to the letters, the companies used social media “influencers” (individuals who promote a company’s product on social media websites in exchange for compensation) to promote their products. Those promotional tweets and other postings on sites including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter failed to include the requisite FDA warnings, prompting the FDA to declare the promoted products misbranded.
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Troutman Sanders Welcomes Agustin Rodriguez
Agustin Rodriguez
Agustin is Counsel in the firm’s Government Investigations, Compliance and Enforcement practice. He leverages his extensive background to assist clients in navigating federal, state and local regulation of tobacco, alcohol and other consumer products. He has unique experience advising on global supply chain risk management issues, specifically in Asia and Latin America.
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Washington Post Article Places Renewed Attention on Child Labor in Agricultural Supply Chains
The Washington Post placed renewed media attention on child labor in the supply chains of several multinational consumer packaged goods companies that sell chocolate and other products containing cocoa. While some strides have been made in the 18 years since the issue was first brought to a head, the industry continues to face issues in traceability and certification of cocoa produced free of child labor. The question for tobacco, as well as other industries reliant on agricultural commodities, is whether this media attention will expand beyond cocoa.
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