US Health Group Calls for Tobacco Traceability

The American Lung Association (ALA) has called for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to propose and finalise regulations to implement track and trace technology on all tobacco products to prevent illicit trade, including counterfeiting and smuggling activities.

That is one of the recommendations in the 2025 edition of the ALA’s State of Tobacco Control1 report, which evaluates state and federal government actions to eliminate tobacco use.

But while the FDA is authorised to establish regulations for tobacco products to be effectively tracked and traced, there is no mandate for it to do so.

Given the lack of mandate, as well as the fact that the FDA’s primary focus is on public health measures rather than controlling illicit trade, it may come as no surprise that the FDA is not currently planning to implement nationwide track and trace. Furthermore, the regulator has reportedly not responded to a citizen petition filed more than a decade ago calling for action in this area.