The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products has released a proposed guidance document explaining how manufacturers, distributors, and retailers can comply with the agency’s prohibition against distributing free samples of tobacco products. Specifically, the guidance outlines the situations in which the sale of tobacco products – including e-cigarettes – to consumers at less than their full price (e.g., coupons, discounts, rewards programs, etc.) would not violate the ban.
03-13-2017ºÚÁÏÉçÇøurged the Trump Administration to closely scrutinize menu labeling requirements and to consider revising the regulations to reduce the burden of compliance for travel stores and convenience stores.
02-16-2017ºÚÁÏÉçÇøjoined more than 200 organizations employing millions in applauding Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) for introducing the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act (H.R. 772) that would provide food retailers greater flexibility as they seek to comply with the menu-labeling regulations and shield them from possible criminal penalties under the FDA menu-labeling rules.
02-13-2017U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation this week that would provide food retailers greater flexibility as they seek to comply with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) menu-labeling regulations, which are set to take effect in May.
02-03-2017On December 15, 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (“USDA”) Food and Nutrition Service (“FNS” or “Agency”) published a final rule altering the eligibility requirements for retailers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition […]
12-15-2016The Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released final regulations governing retailer eligibility for redeeming Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The final rules accept many of the arguments that ºÚÁÏÉçÇøhas made throughout the rulemaking process, both in comments filed with USDA as well as in testimony before the House Agriculture Committee.
12-08-2016ºÚÁÏÉçÇømet with the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Nov. 18 to discuss the Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) proposed regulation regarding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as “food stamps”) retailer eligibility requirements. The proposed regulation, which is expected to be finalized in a revised form before the end of the year, would functionally prohibit the convenience stores located within travel plazas from redeeming SNAP benefits.
11-21-2016On August 8, 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began restricting retailers’ ability to sell additional tobacco products beyond simply cigarettes. Such products include e-cigarettes and vaping products, rather than only traditional combustible cigarettes. These products became subject to minimum purchasing age (18) requirements and associated customer age identification verification requirements, as well as marketing and advertising restrictions and a prohibition of vending machine sales of e-cigarettes. The rules also impose these restrictions on hookah, pipe tobacco, and cigars.
10-07-2016ºÚÁÏÉçÇøand a coalition of more than 200 food and retail groups is urging Congress to enact the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2015 (H.R. 2017, S. 2217) before the end of the year to address remaining problems with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) menu-labeling rule and ensure necessary compliance flexibility.
09-14-2016From menu labeling requirements to taxes on sodas, there is a push at the federal and state levels to discourage the consumption of certain types of foods. The trend is […]
08-31-2016The Food and Drug Administration’s “deeming regulation,” imposing restrictions on e-cigarettes, vape pens, as well as cigars and pipe tobacco, contains several important restrictions on tobacco retailers that take effect August 8.
08-05-2016