The Premium Cigar Association today recognizes the final decision from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia finalizing its prior ruling regarding the regulation of premium cigars under the Tobacco Control Act.
In the order, issued by Judge Amit P. Mehta, the court reaffirmed that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Deeming Rule does not apply to premium cigars as defined by the court. The court adopted the same definition it previously applied in the case.
“After nearly a decade of litigation, this decision provides clarity for retailers, manufacturers, and consumers who have had to operate under significant regulatory uncertainty.” said Joshua Habursky, Chief Executive Officer of the Premium Cigar Association. “Premium cigars clearly represent a distinct product category, and this outcome reflects the importance of considering those differences in any regulatory framework.”
The court’s order follows a remand from the D.C. Circuit directing further consideration of how “premium cigars” should be defined. After reviewing input from all parties, the court declined to modify its existing definition of premium cigars.
The decision preserves the current regulatory framework for premium cigars and provides long-needed clarity for an industry that has operated under uncertainty for years.
View the court ruling here.