Arlington, VA — The American Consumer Institute (ACI), an independent educational and research organization, has submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee regarding renewing the risk modification order for Swedish Match USA’s Snus products. As part of its ongoing mission, ACI seeks to protect consumer interests by supporting alternatives to traditional smoking products, which are known to have severe health impacts. With the renewal of the risk modification order, ACI emphasizes the importance of providing safer alternatives like Snus to American consumers.
Read the full letter to the FDA here.
Key Takeaways
- Historical Context: The FDA granted Snus its modified risk status in October 2019, acknowledging its potential to reduce harms associated with smoking. This status was a significant acknowledgment of Snus as a viable smoking cessation tool.
- Health Impact: Research indicates that Snus is substantially less harmful than cigarettes, contributing to significant reductions in smoking-related diseases such as lung cancer and cardiovascular conditions in regions where it has substantially replaced smoking.
- Economic and Health Care Savings: By providing a less harmful alternative to cigarettes, Snus not only improves public health outcomes but also has the potential to alleviate the economic burden on the healthcare system, which spends billions annually on smoking-related illnesses.
- Consumer Choice and Public Health: Renewing the risk modification order for Snus supports consumer choice, offering smokers a less harmful alternative that can aid in quitting smoking, thus aligning with public health goals.
The American Consumer Institute strongly urges the FDA to renew the risk modification order for Swedish Match USA’s Snus products, advocating for the continued availability of safer alternatives to cigarettes. This renewal is crucial not only for helping reduce the prevalence of smoking-related deaths but also for supporting the rights of consumers to make informed choices about their health. ACI calls on stakeholders and the public to support this renewal, emphasizing the broader benefits of harm reduction strategies in tobacco policy.
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