Traditional Cigar Manufacturing Act — Sen Pat Toomey is co-sponsoring the bipartisan Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2013 that would properly distinguish premium, hand rolled cigars from other tobacco products, such as cigarettes, for the purpose of regulation by the FDA.
Pennsylvania is the home of many old, small, premium-cigar retailers and employes several thousand people. Recent federal Food and Drug Administration (FD) regulations have endangered their existence.
“The enactment of FDA regulations on premium cigars would only serve to inhibit future success and job growth in this industry,” Toomey said.
Among those joining in praise for Toomey was Robert Levine, president of Holt’s Cigar Co., which has been in business in Philadelphia for more than 100 years.
“My children are now in the business and they should have the opportunity to take our business to the next level without overbearing government regulations,” Levin said.