US FDA pushing to reduce amount of nicotine in cigarettes

US health officials are pushing to make the move happen in the states, which could have “significant” implications for UK smokers, according to commentators.

The move was announced by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year to prevent millions of deaths linked to diseases related to cigarettes.

Health experts in the UK now warn that the move, if successful, could take root in the UK.

Daily Star quoted Linda Bauld, professor of Health Policy at the University of Stirling, “A number of studies have examined reducing the nicotine in cigarettes, with promising results." 

"This would make smoking less appealing and addictive.”

"In carefully controlled trials, there is some evidence it could help smokers cut down or quit.”

But Bauld warns, "However, there will be big challenges implementing this in the real world.

"Cigarettes are available globally, and selling less addictive products in the USA could result in a black market in imported or counterfeit products."

Also Robert West, professor of Health Psychology, University College London, said, “If we could move directly from where we are to a world where no accessible tobacco product contained addictive levels of nicotine that might work.”

According to experts, the FDA's powers to police the tobacco industry are unique worldwide and the attempt to restrict nicotine would represent a first in global efforts to cut smoking-related deaths.

In one scenario, the FDA estimates the US smoking rate could fall as low as 1.4 per cent by 2060, down from the 15 per cent of adults who smoke now. Further, the agency projects that about 5 million more people would quit cigarettes within one year of implementing limits.

According to the FDA, the greatest impact would come from preventing young people from ever becoming addicted.