Zeller has played an important role in the government’s regulation of tobacco products. Since assuming the role of CTP director, his agency has taken steps to treat all deemed tobacco products as falling somewhere on the “continuum of risk” though combustible and non-combustible tobacco products have generally been regulated similarly in recent years. One of the largest tasks Zeller has had in recent years was overseeing the FDA’s regulation of the tobacco industry and deemed products through the Premarket Tobacco Product Applications (PMTAs) and Standard Equivalence (SE) process.
Because the CTP is not an independent agency, Zeller’s replacement will not have to be confirmed by the Senate. In 2022, a new FDA commissioner will be named and will have a role in choosing Zeller’s replacement. Biden nominated Robert Califf to fill the position of FDA commissioner. Califf is a cardiologist who served as FDA commissioner for close to a year toward the end of the Obama administration. At the time, Califf won confirmation by a wide margin despite pushback from several Democratic senators. Califf is currently being questioned by senators over the topics of his handling of opioids and his ties to big Pharma. The FDA commissioner, secretary of Health and Human Services’ Xavier Becerra, and the director of the Center for Tobacco Products will all play a key role in future handling and regulation of deemed tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, and e-cigarettes.
 plans to retire in April 2022.){kind=link}