18
TOBACCO BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL
MAY/JUNE 2014
NEWS & TRENDS
MAY/JUNE 2014
.
FDA Misses Regulatory Deadline
Legislators criticize FDA for failing to meet its 90-day review deadline.
In a letter to President Obama, U.S.
Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Rich-
ard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tom Harkin
(D-Iowa), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sher-
rod Brown (D-Ohio), and Ed Markey
(D-Mass.) prodded the administra-
tion to review and finalize regulations
for tobacco products, noting that the
deadline for completing a review of
the deeming regulations submitted on
October 1, 2013 has passed.
The letter expressed particular con-
cern about products seen as more
youth-oriented. “In light of the novel
products that threaten to addict more
youth to nicotine, we ask you to urge
the Office of Information and Regula-
tory Affairs (OIRA) to swiftly release the
deeming regulations that it received on
October 1, 2013,” stated the letter. “We
are particularly concerned about the
risk of addiction posed by new nicotine-
based products such as e-cigarettes
and ‘e-hookahs.’[…]While we under-
stand that OIRA is dealing with a num-
ber of deadlines, we urge you not to
compound the delays that have already
occurred over the years since the pas-
sage of the Family Smoking Prevention
and Tobacco Control Act of 2009.”
Ironically, the tobacco industry has
been anxiously awaiting regulatory
guidance as well, with many retailers
and manufacturers expressing frus-
tration that a lack of clarity around
regulation of products not specifically
referenced in the Family Smoking
Prevention and Tobacco Control Act
hampers their planning. It is widely
believed that the forthcoming deem-
ing regulations will cover e-cigarettes.
The legislators’ letter also raised
concerns about what they called the
“growing prevalence” of e-cigarette
use among youth. “Many of us have
spoken with Food and Drug Adminis-
tration Commissioner Margaret Ham-
burg and Center for Tobacco Products
Director Mitch Zeller about the urgent
need for deeming regulations. We
were pleased to see the proposed reg-
ulations move from their jurisdiction
to OIRA. We hope that you will pri-
oritize the review of these regulations
so that we work together to advance
appropriate regulatory oversight of e-
cigarettes,” concludes the letter.
Meanwhile, legislation has been
proposed that would prevent the mar-
keting of e-cigarettes to children. U.S.
Sens. Boxer, Durbin, Harkin, Blumen-
thal and Markey have introduced the
“Protecting Children From Electronic
Cigarette Advertising Act,” which will
enable the Federal Trade Commission
(FTC) to determine what constitutes
e-cigarette marketing to children and
to work with state attorneys general to
enforce the ban.
Moorpark, California-based Kretek Interna-
tional has appointedRussell G. Mancuso as
vice president of field sales, with responsi-
bility for direction and focus of the Kretek
national sales force for all Kretek brands.
Mancuso’s initial focus will be to ensure
that Kretek’s national sales force continues
to partner with distributor customers as
changing assignments occur in response
to new product introductions.
“With Kretek’s entry into more product
categories, it was the right time for chang-
es in reporting and responsibilities,” says
Mark Cassar, CEO of
Kretek, a privately
held importing and
marketing company
with business con-
centrated in the cigar,
e-cigarette, and OTP
categories. “Russ’s
new focus will allow us to improve our
sales planning and policies moving for-
ward in new areas.”
Mancuso joined the Kretek organiza-
tion in September 2013 as vice president
of business development for Kretek’s To-
bacco Media Group, the parent company
of
Tobacco Business International
. Prior to
joining Kretek, Mancuso served as senior
vice president of national accounts at Com-
monwealth Brands. He was previously
general manager of RBA and director of
sales for Liggett Group.
Kretek also announced two additional
sales appointments. Steve Lucas has
joined the company as central region sales
director and Eric Heiberg has joined as
northeastern region sales director. Both
will report to Russ Mancuso, Kretek Field
Sales VP.
Heiberg will be responsible for business
development and retail growth of Kretek’s
brands through its distributor and broker
networks in the Northeast, defined by the
company as extending across New Eng-
land, New York, New Jersey and Delaware,
plus Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.
Heiberg is a veteran of management posi-
tions at Commonwealth Brands, Fleming
Companies and American Tobacco.
Lucas will have similar responsibility in
his region, which extends from Minnesota
and Michigan south to Texas and Oklaho-
ma. His prior experience includes regional
sales positions at Robert Burton Associ-
ates, Commonwealth Brands and Imperial
Tobacco Group.
Kretek is the exclusive importer and
marketer of Djarum and Cuban Rounds
Cigar brands, Cig2o, EZ Cig and Voodoo e-
vapor products, DjEEP lighters and VirMax
performance products.
Kretek Names New Sales TeamMembers
Russ Mancuso is the company’s new VP of field sales.
Russell G. Mancuso
