US ban on flavoured cigs takes effect

       The new federal ban on flavoured cigarettes took effect on Tuesday, marking one of the first visible signs of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s new authority to regulate tobacco.
       The ban on manufacturing, importing, marketing and distribution includes candy-, fruit- and cloveflavoured cigarettes, which health and federal authorities say are more appealing to youth. It does not include a ban on menthol or other flavoured tobacco products like cigars - issues that the FDA is studying.
       "Candy- and fruit-flavoured cigarettes are a gateway for many children and young adults to become regular tobacco users," said Dr Lawrence R. Deyton,director of the FDA's Centre for Tobacco Products.
       Citing research studies, Dr Deyton said that 17-year-old smokers are three times as likely to use flavoured cigarettes as smokers over the age of 25.FDA officials also said that almost 90% of adult smokers start smoking as teenagers and the ban will help stop more than 3,600 young Americans who start smoking daily.
       The FDA sent a letter to the industry last week discussing the ban, its plans for enforcement, including the definition of a cigarette under the ban.Officials are encouraging consumers to notify authorities of any potential violations of the ban.
       Executives from leading health groups urged the FDA last month to take a closer look at attempt to sidestep the ban by making superficial changes that turn a cigarette into a small cigar in order to keep selling flavoured products.
       The move came after word that the nation's top distributor of clove cigarettes - California-based Kretek International Inc - began offering small filtered spice-flavoured cigars that are close to the size of a cigarette but are wrapped in tobacco rather than paper.
       In June, President Barack Obama signed the law that allows the FDA to regulate the industry. Its authority includes the ability to ban certain products,reduce nicotine in tobacco products and block labels such as "low tar" and "light". Tobacco companies also will be required to cover their cartons with large, graphic warnings.
       The law won't let the FDA ban nicotine or tobacco outright, but the agency will be able to regulate what goes into tobacco products, make public the ingredients and prohibit marketing campaigns,especially those geared towards children.
       Richmond, Virginia-based Altria Group Inc, owner of market-leading Philip Morris USA, supported the legislation, while its chief rivals - No 2 Reynolds American Inc and No 3 Lorillard Inc, both based in North Carolina - opposed it.