Cigar Assessor
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Thursday, May 5, 2016
From Cigar Aficionado
FDA Ruling Threatens Cigar Industry
FDA Ruling Threatens Cigar Industry
Posted May 5, 2016
The Food and Drug Administration announced this morning tough new
regulations on the entire U.S. tobacco industry, including the segment
that makes and markets premium, handmade cigars.
Despite previous hopes, the premium cigar industry did not get the exemption it—and thousands of cigar lovers across the United States—had lobbied for. The FDA chose Option One, the tougher of the two routes, casting aside any exemption for premium cigars.
If left unchecked, the rulings issued today would take effect in 90 days, or August 8, 2016. The premium cigar industry is preparing a legal response to challenge the FDA ruling.
The ruling includes:
• Establishing a federally mandated minimum of 18 years for the purchase of any tobacco product, including sales made online, and age verification made by photo ID.
• The banning of free tobacco samples.
• The requirement of products released after February 15, 2007 to be verified by the FDA before going to market.
In a conference call to the media early this afternoon, Mitch Zeller, J.D., Director, Center for Tobacco Products for the FDA, said the FDA intended to also target flavored cigars, including flavored premium cigars.
The FDA has said this new product verification will be done "under staggered timelines, the FDA expects that manufacturers will continue selling their products for up to two years while they submit—and an additional year while the FDA reviews—a new tobacco product application. The FDA will issue an order granting marketing authorization where appropriate; otherwise, the product will face FDA enforcement."
This last item has been the one most feared by premium cigarmakers. In an industry where new products are an important part of the market, product verification and government approval prior to release would radically slow the process of getting new product to store shelves, as well as adding to the cost of business.
The FDA confirmed that all required applications could “cost hundreds of thousands of dollars” per application. "It's an average and there's a range," said a representative from the FDA during the conference call.
This ruling comes a little more than two months prior to the industry's biggest trade show, the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers trade show, taking place in Las Vegas, in which cigar samples are an integral part.
Premium, handmade cigars account for roughly 315 million units a year in the United States, a mere fraction of the nearly 12 billion cigars sold annually in America, the vast majority of which are made by machine.
"We are deeply disappointed that the Food and Drug Administration has decided to regulate premium cigars," said Eric and Bobby Newman, owners of the J.C. Newman Cigar Co. of Tampa, Florida, in a joint statement. "The premium cigar industry is made up of dozens of small, family-owned cigarmakers, like us, along with thousands of small, independent specialty cigar stores across the country. The cost and burdens of onerous regulations threaten the entire industry. We are closely studying the 499 pages of regulations that the FDA issued this morning and are hopeful that we can find a way to save our historic cigar factory in Tampa."
"The FDA's regulation of premium cigars, if left unchecked, would have a devastating impact on retailers and manufacturers alike," said Mark Pursell, CEO of the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association. "Fortunately, the industry's legislative strategy continues to be implemented, including language recently adopted by the Appropriations Agricultural Subcommittee disallowing any funding of FDA regulation of premium cigars and negating the arbitrary predicate date of February 2007, after which any tobacco product would be considered new, and have to go through an expensive and time consuming compliance process. Bills H.R. 662 and S. 441, exempting premium cigars and pipe tobacco, continue to gain co-sponsors as we pursue a legislative solution to unneeded and harmful government intrusion."
Said Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, chief executive officer of Oettinger Davidoff AG, owner of Davidoff and other cigar brands: "We are very disappointed to note that the FDA seems to have ignored the compelling logic to treat premium cigars differently from cigarettes, and to also have further harmed the premium cigar category by requiring a predicate date that goes back over 10 years."
While the FDA's ruling is certainly harsh on the industry, it's not clear if this will become law. And the Cigar Rights of America is preparing to fight against the FDA.
"We're going to be totally concentrating our efforts on a two-front war right now. One is advancing the legislation that was adopted by the House Appropriations Committee, which calls for an exemption on premium and large cigars, and getting that through the full House of Representatives and adopted by the Senate, which probably won't happen until after this year," said J. Glynn Loope, executive director of the Cigar Rights of America. "Secondly, we're going to be evaluating immediately all of our legal options for litigation. We spent a lot of the last six weeks interviewing law firms for just such a contingency."
During the FDA's official media conference call, it was made clear that Congress still has the power to enact the previous riders proposed by the House Appropriations Committee last month. The two riders would cut funding for the FDA to regulate premium cigars and push the predicate date from February 15, 2007 to 2016. The FDA vehemently opposes these riders.
"If the rider were to be enacted, it would have an enormous impact on public health," said a representative from the FDA during the conference call.
Check back to CigarAficionado.com as we will continue reporting on this developing story as new information comes forward.
[Update: FDA comments and quotations were added after this afternoon's media conference call.]
Despite previous hopes, the premium cigar industry did not get the exemption it—and thousands of cigar lovers across the United States—had lobbied for. The FDA chose Option One, the tougher of the two routes, casting aside any exemption for premium cigars.
If left unchecked, the rulings issued today would take effect in 90 days, or August 8, 2016. The premium cigar industry is preparing a legal response to challenge the FDA ruling.
The ruling includes:
• Establishing a federally mandated minimum of 18 years for the purchase of any tobacco product, including sales made online, and age verification made by photo ID.
• The banning of free tobacco samples.
• The requirement of products released after February 15, 2007 to be verified by the FDA before going to market.
In a conference call to the media early this afternoon, Mitch Zeller, J.D., Director, Center for Tobacco Products for the FDA, said the FDA intended to also target flavored cigars, including flavored premium cigars.
The FDA has said this new product verification will be done "under staggered timelines, the FDA expects that manufacturers will continue selling their products for up to two years while they submit—and an additional year while the FDA reviews—a new tobacco product application. The FDA will issue an order granting marketing authorization where appropriate; otherwise, the product will face FDA enforcement."
This last item has been the one most feared by premium cigarmakers. In an industry where new products are an important part of the market, product verification and government approval prior to release would radically slow the process of getting new product to store shelves, as well as adding to the cost of business.
The FDA confirmed that all required applications could “cost hundreds of thousands of dollars” per application. "It's an average and there's a range," said a representative from the FDA during the conference call.
This ruling comes a little more than two months prior to the industry's biggest trade show, the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers trade show, taking place in Las Vegas, in which cigar samples are an integral part.
Premium, handmade cigars account for roughly 315 million units a year in the United States, a mere fraction of the nearly 12 billion cigars sold annually in America, the vast majority of which are made by machine.
"We are deeply disappointed that the Food and Drug Administration has decided to regulate premium cigars," said Eric and Bobby Newman, owners of the J.C. Newman Cigar Co. of Tampa, Florida, in a joint statement. "The premium cigar industry is made up of dozens of small, family-owned cigarmakers, like us, along with thousands of small, independent specialty cigar stores across the country. The cost and burdens of onerous regulations threaten the entire industry. We are closely studying the 499 pages of regulations that the FDA issued this morning and are hopeful that we can find a way to save our historic cigar factory in Tampa."
"The FDA's regulation of premium cigars, if left unchecked, would have a devastating impact on retailers and manufacturers alike," said Mark Pursell, CEO of the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association. "Fortunately, the industry's legislative strategy continues to be implemented, including language recently adopted by the Appropriations Agricultural Subcommittee disallowing any funding of FDA regulation of premium cigars and negating the arbitrary predicate date of February 2007, after which any tobacco product would be considered new, and have to go through an expensive and time consuming compliance process. Bills H.R. 662 and S. 441, exempting premium cigars and pipe tobacco, continue to gain co-sponsors as we pursue a legislative solution to unneeded and harmful government intrusion."
Said Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, chief executive officer of Oettinger Davidoff AG, owner of Davidoff and other cigar brands: "We are very disappointed to note that the FDA seems to have ignored the compelling logic to treat premium cigars differently from cigarettes, and to also have further harmed the premium cigar category by requiring a predicate date that goes back over 10 years."
While the FDA's ruling is certainly harsh on the industry, it's not clear if this will become law. And the Cigar Rights of America is preparing to fight against the FDA.
"We're going to be totally concentrating our efforts on a two-front war right now. One is advancing the legislation that was adopted by the House Appropriations Committee, which calls for an exemption on premium and large cigars, and getting that through the full House of Representatives and adopted by the Senate, which probably won't happen until after this year," said J. Glynn Loope, executive director of the Cigar Rights of America. "Secondly, we're going to be evaluating immediately all of our legal options for litigation. We spent a lot of the last six weeks interviewing law firms for just such a contingency."
During the FDA's official media conference call, it was made clear that Congress still has the power to enact the previous riders proposed by the House Appropriations Committee last month. The two riders would cut funding for the FDA to regulate premium cigars and push the predicate date from February 15, 2007 to 2016. The FDA vehemently opposes these riders.
"If the rider were to be enacted, it would have an enormous impact on public health," said a representative from the FDA during the conference call.
Check back to CigarAficionado.com as we will continue reporting on this developing story as new information comes forward.
[Update: FDA comments and quotations were added after this afternoon's media conference call.]
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
10 Video Cigar Reviews
10 video reviews
Southern Draw Kuduz
Black Label Trading Company Redemption
Alec Bradley Coyol
Crowned Heads Jericho Hill
Balmoral Royal Selection Anejo 18
Black Label Trading Company Deliverance Lancero
Caldwell Cigar Company The King Is Dead
Black Label Trading Company Lawless
Southern Draw Quick Draw Pennsylvania
Ventura Cigar Company Project 805 Cubra Maduro
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Black Label Trading Company moves operations to new Factory.
February 13, 2015 — Black Label Trading Company is proud to announce the formation of a new cigar factory: Fabrica de Oveja Negra in Esteli, Nicaragua. The mission of Oveja Negra is a complete focus on small batch premium cigars.
Black Label Trading Company is taking the next step in small batch, boutique cigar manufacturing, taking ownership of the entire process. As the name suggests, Oveja Negra (Black Sheep), will do things different.
“Starting our own factory was a natural progression of the brand. We needed the freedom to be as creative as possible and to have ownership of every process that goes into making our cigars. We have always been involved in every aspect of our production; but now we can take it to the next level and ensure 100% quality from seed to ash,” stated James Brown, creator of Black Label Trading Company.
Oveja Negra offers its clients a factory where small batch production is the norm and quality is the priority. Oveja Negra will also provide smaller brands and retailers wanting private labels, can make a cigar without large minimum orders.
“This is a tough industry for small companies. It’s hard to get the attention you need to create a premium product. Our goal is to help support other boutique brands and grow the premium-cigar market,” stated James Brown.
Black Label Trading Company is re-defining the standards for cigar making. With a less-is-more philosophy, Black Label Trading Company creates handcrafted premium cigars of the utmost quality in small batch, limited quantities.
www.blacklabeltrading.com
Friday, January 9, 2015
Jordan Alexander III Premium Cigar Company’s newest release.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DALTON, PA. Jordan Alexander III Premium Cigar Company’s newest release, the Jordan Alexander III Corjo will begin shipping to retailers on February 2, 2015. Originally announced as a mid-Fall 2014 release, the release will instead now mark the first release of 2015 for JA3 Cigars.
The new blend is manufactured by the Quesada Cigar Factory and will largely replace JA3’s current corojo blend (See August Press Release for details on rebranding/release). The Jordan Alexander III Corojo is constructed with a Dominican Corojo wrapper, Dominican binder, with Dominican and Nicaraguan filler. This release is available in four vitolas; robusto (5 1⁄2 x 54), toro (6 x 52), double toro (6x60), and belicoso (6 x 52). The three parejo vitolas feature a pigtail cap and closed foot.
The corojo is sold in boxes of 20, with 4 sticks wide by 5 high. The MSRP for the robusto is $7.95, toro is $8.50, belicoso is $9.25, and double toro is $9.75. Pre-orders are still being accepted. Retailers interested in carrying the Jordan Alexander III Corojo are asked to contact
Sales@JordanAlexanderIII.com or call 1-855-216-3349. Shipment priorities are given to current retailers and are first come, first serve. All current pre-orders will ship on the official release date. Pre- release samples are immediately available for interested reviewers and retailers. Those interested are asked to contact Alex@JordanAlexanderIII.com.
Questions regarding this announcement can be directed to Alexander Miller at Alex@JordanAlexanderIII.com or at (570) 335-3143.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
AJ Fernandez New World Robusto
Size: 51/2 X 55
Wrapper: Dark Nicaraguan
Binder: Jalapa
Filler: Blend of Ometepe,
Condega and EstelÃ
When I first heard about this cigar I was excited. I have enjoyed everything I smoked made my AJ Fernandez and this cigar was no exception. This is the first cigar AJ has created together with his father, Ismael Fernandez. A great presentation, this box pressed cigar had a beautiful and and a red ribbon at the foot. Starting spicy and sweet for most of the cigar and rounding off the last third with a nice dark coffee note. The burn stayed mostly even throughout and the smoke was full, creamy and billowing. The ash was a beautiful grey with streaks of black. I give the AJ Fernandez New World the Cigar Assessor Approval. Smoke one when you can, you won't be disappointed.
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