The Food and Drug Administration wants to lower nicotine in cigarettes to a nonaddictive level in a bid to curb smoking rates.
The agency released notice on Thursday it is exploring lowering the nicotine in cigarettes. The announcement is part of a larger effort by the agency to curb smoking rates, as cigarette smoking still kills more than 480,000 Americans a year.
“We’re taking a pivotal step today that could ultimately bring us closer to our vision of a world where combustible cigarettes would no longer create or sustain addiction,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb in a statement.
The FDA is seeking comments on what the best maximum nicotine level should be and whether the new nicotine limit should be phased in gradually or immediately.
Gottlieb referenced a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine that showed lowering nicotine could lead to approximately 5 million additional adult smokers to kick the habit within one year of implementation of the limit.
“No statistical model can truly capture the full impact of this effort — including the joy from years of quality life gained with a loved one, or how much pain and suffering would be avoided for millions of families across the country,” Gottlieb said. “But what we’re learning about the significant public health promise of this approach leaves me encouraged and optimistic.”
The agency is seeking comments on the effort until June.
