Azim Chowdhury Quoted in Nicotine Insider Article on ‘Premium Cigar’ Definition

Keller and Heckman Partner Azim Chowdhury was quoted in the Nicotine Insider article, “US Federal Court Finally Defines ‘Premium Cigar.’” The article reports that a federal court has defined “premium cigars” after a decade-long legal battle, marking a key moment in how the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates cigars. Judge Amit P. Mehta ruled that premium cigars (excluding flavored and most machine-made products) will remain outside FDA oversight for now.

“Judge Mehta reached the right result,” stated Azim. “The court appropriately preserved the current premium cigar definition and declined to expand it in a way that would sweep flavored cigars into the exemption. Any future change should occur through notice-and-comment rulemaking, where FDA can fully evaluate the record, the science, and the public-health implications.”

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