On July 24, 2023, Keller and Heckman Partners Eric Gotting and Azim Chowdhury, along with co-counsel, on behalf of members of the Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) industry[i], filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) in support of petitioners in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo[ii]
FDA Inspection Blitz Leads to Over 180 Warning Letters to Retailers for the Sale of Unauthorized E-Cigarettes
On June 22, 2023, FDA announced it had issued warning letters to 189 retailers for selling unauthorized flavored tobacco products manufactured by Elf Bar and Esco Bar brands. This enforcement action comes on the heels of earlier aggressive action by FDA in its issuance of more than 570 warning letters to firms for the manufacture
Experts Recommend FDA Adopt an Enhanced Regulatory Strategy for Nicotine and Tobacco Products to Help Reach Cancer Moonshot Goals
As we previously reported, the Reagan-Udall Report evaluated FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) and reported that stakeholders were concerned over, among other things, a lack of clear guidance and transparency regarding regulations, the premarket review process, and enforcement priorities. On February 24, 2023, CTP responded to the report and committed to addressing all
Keller and Heckman Files Supreme Court Amicus Brief on Behalf of Public Health Experts in Support of Avail Vapor’s Cert Petition Challenging FDA’s Marketing Denial Order
On June 14, 2023, Keller and Heckman Partners Eric Gotting and Azim Chowdhury, on behalf of a group of public health experts, filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) in support of Avail Vapor’s writ of certiorari petitioning SCOTUS to review the Fourth Circuit’s decision to uphold the Food
The Reagan Udall Foundation – A Critical Evaluation of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products
I. Reagan-Udall Report
In July 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner, Dr. Robert Califf, released a public statement saying the agency “has confronted a series of challenges that have tested our regulatory frameworks and stressed the agency’s operations.” As such, Commissioner Califf was “prompt[ed] . . . to take a closer look at
News Alert: Public Consultation on the EU’s Tobacco Products Legislation: Comment Period Open Until May 16, 2023
On February 21, 2023, the European Commission opened a public consultation[1] seeking feedback on the performance of the current legislative framework for tobacco products, and ways that the legislation could be improved. All interested stakeholders can submit comments until May 16, 2023.
I. Background
In May 2008, the European Commission issued a report[2]
FDA Publishes Proposed Rule on Tobacco Product Manufacturing Practices
On March 10, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a long-awaited proposed rule on Requirements for Tobacco Product Manufacturing Practice (TPMP),[1] which sets forth proposed requirements for the manufacture, design, packing, and storage of tobacco products[2]. The proposed requirements are essentially “good manufacturing practices” for tobacco products and are intended to minimize
FDA Files Civil Money Penalty Complaints Against Four Small Vape Shops for Alleged Premarket Review Violations
On February 22, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the filing of civil money penalty (CMP) complaints against four domestic e-liquid manufacturers, all of which appear to be small vape shops that were producing nicotine-containing e-liquids used in open-system electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) devices.[1] The four named companies are:
California Votes “Yes” on Proposition 31 Banning the Retail Sale Non-Tobacco Flavored Tobacco Products; Keller and Heckman Files Supreme Court Amicus Brief in Case Challenging Los Angeles County Flavor Ban
On November 8, 2022, California voters approved[1] the Referendum on 2020 Law That Would Prohibit the Retail Sale of Certain Flavored Tobacco Products (Proposition 31). The referendum, submitted in accordance with the provisions of Section 9 of Article II of the California Constitution, asked California citizens to vote on whether to uphold a 2020
California OEHHA Adopts Safe Harbor Warning Regulations for Cannabis Smoke and Delta-9-THC
Recently, California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) adopted safe harbor warning regulations for cannabis smoke and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC) under California Proposition 65.[1]
What is Proposition 65?
The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (also known as Proposition 65) requires the governor of California to publish, at