The US Food and Drug Administration is proposing limits on the level of nicotine in cigarettes and some other types of tobacco products, such as cigars and pipe tobacco, in order to make them less addictive,

Zeller credited Gottlieb for advocating for the nicotine regulation within the Trump White House, after the Obama administration had fallen short. Obama officials had promised Zeller they would back rules to curb nicotine and menthol.

FDA pushing for less nicotine in cigarettes

Officials proposed limiting the amount of nicotine to make cigarettes less addictive, but it's unclear if the incoming administration will offer support.

The FDA's proposed rule would slash nicotine levels in cigarettes, most cigars and other combustible tobacco products, but not vapes, hookahs or Zyn.

A proposed FDA rule would mandate a reduction to minimally addictive or nonaddictive levels, but the incoming Trump administration isn’t expected to follow through on the idea.

Temple pulmonologist Dr. Jamie Garfield says the proposed regulation is an effective harm reduction strategy, but suggests it will take a significant lobbying effort for it to go into effect.

The Biden administration released a proposal Wednesday to dramatically reduce nicotine levels in cigarettes, a move that anti-smoking advocates believe would save millions of lives even as it threatens the powerful tobacco industry.