If you're a clove cigarette lover LISTEN-UP: It is now illegal to buy clove cigarettes! They are NOW BANNED for sale within the United States. Chosen, as the first, of what is said to be many targets used to hook children into the smoking habit, (an odd claim for a product which accounts for less than 1% overall yearly tobacco sales.). And this is for all brands, all clove cigarettes.

But, wait, Djarum, and I'm sure other Indonesian manufacturers, still sell clove cigars! Cigars are exempt! And, to take the side of the industry for just a minute; "those clove cigars have been available for four or five years, and probably longer."

The "news media" are reporting that the clove cigars are being made to circumvent the law. This statement by the news media is misleading, and false. I smoked clove cigs for many years and the cigars? They've been around a long time, although, I never smoked one.

Yesterday, I published an article about the clove law taking effect on October 1. This date is incorrect. I have pulled my previous article.

After writing my article yesterday, I decided to buy one last pack, for old times sake. I stopped at our local smoke shop and was told the law was already in-effect. I was late by a little over a day.

And, even though I don't smoke anymore, its still hard to believe they are gone.

I can't help but wonder why the FDA is going after the small sales clove cigarette industry and continues to allow the American tobacco companies to add many, many chemicals to be infused into American made cigarettes, and never even lift an eyebrow, but, the eyebrows may be lifting, we'll have to wait and see.

Summary of new Flavored Cigarette Ban (from the website of the FDA) :

Flavored Tobacco

On September 22, 2009 a ban on cigarettes containing certain characterizing flavors went into effect. The ban, authorized by the new Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, is part of a national effort by FDA to reduce smoking in America.

FDA’s ban on candy and fruit-flavored cigarettes highlights the importance of reducing the number of children who start to smoke, and who become addicted to dangerous tobacco products. FDA is also examining options for regulating both menthol cigarettes and flavored tobacco products other than cigarettes.

According to the act

…a cigarette or any of its component parts (including the tobacco, filter, or paper) shall not contain, as a constituent (including a smoke constituent) or additive, an artificial or natural flavor (other than tobacco or menthol) or an herb or spice, including strawberry, grape, orange, clove, cinnamon, pineapple, vanilla, coconut, licorice, cocoa, chocolate, cherry, or coffee, that is a characterizing flavor of the tobacco product or tobacco smoke

Any company who continues to make, ship or sell such products may be subject to FDA enforcement actions. You are encouraged to report any company that sells cigarettes with these certain characterizing flavors.

To Read full factual information regarding this new law follow this link: http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/FlavoredTobacco/default.

Cloves are back, at least to some extent. The new clove-cigars are replacing the, now, banned clove-cigarettes. And, if you didn't look real close you'll miss the difference! To use Djarum, as an example, Dijarum (little) Cigars come in the old-familar 12 pack, and the size of the cigar is the same as the old cigarette, except its wrapped in tobacco-leaf rather than paper. And, they tast just as they always have.

It's amazing how fast the industry re-invented itself. Considering the manufacturers are all in Indonesia I was surprised at the fast turn around on restocking -- 5 days after the law changed the cigars were on the shelf.

And, lastly, a bit of defense of the clove cigarette industry; the so-called BAN was aimed at "flavored tobacco products." Clove cigarettes, I would not consider to be flavored since real cloves are mixed in with the tobacco, thus you're smoking two-real-ingredient. "Flavored" to me would be tobacco + flavor added, which clove-cigs are not.

And, one other curious point, menthol cigarettes are much closer to "flavored" than the mixed cigarette of clove and tobacco. But, menthol cigarettes remained legal, exempt from this new law.

You don't think it might have been one of those back-room-deals between our government and America's cigarette manufacturers?????????

Related Article:

The New Tobacco - Sugary Treats For Everyone