Nicotine content in cigarettes sold in the United States must be significantly reduced under a proposal released by the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday.

If finalized, the change would mean cigarettes would lose their ability to become addictive for most people.

"By reducing the nicotine content in cigarettes and certain other combustible tobacco products to levels that no longer create or sustain addiction, the cycle of exposure to these toxic chemicals can be broken," said Brian King, director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco. "The product department said in an interview with reporters.

Smoking kills more than 480,000 Americans every year. The nicotine content in cigarettes varies greatly depending on the brand, but generally the average nicotine content per cigarette is 13 milligrams. The FDA's plan would limit nicotine content to 0.07 milligrams in nearly all combustible tobacco products, including cigarettes, most cigars and pipe tobacco. Approximately 95% reduction.

Officials from President-elect Donald Trump's first term raised the possibility of a federal regulatory program for nicotine, despite the 11th-hour release of the proposal by the outgoing Biden administration. Therefore, this change is likely to continue to advance over the next four years.

“If there’s a goal of making America healthy again, I can’t imagine anything more important,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said during a briefing call. Calif, a Biden appointee, will resign after Trump takes office.

If the rule is finalized, companies would have two years to make the necessary changes.

The FDA's proposal does not include e-cigarettes, other vaping products, hookahs, smokeless tobacco products or nicotine replacement pouches.

"While I would like to reduce the use of all of these products, I do think there is value in reducing harm by helping people avoid becoming addicted to cigarettes," said former CDC acting director and current CDC president Richard Dr. Besser said. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

When tobacco is burned, it releases toxins known to cause cancer, heart disease, and other chronic diseases. Nicotine is the addictive substance in cigarettes.

"Tar and everything around nicotine poses the greatest risk to people's health," Besser said. "But nicotine is what gets you hooked."

The proposal has been largely welcomed by public health officials, but American Lung Association CEO Harold Weimer said it doesn't go far enough.

"We urge the FDA to reduce nicotine levels to non-addictive levels in all tobacco products, including all cigars, hookahs and e-cigarettes," Weimer said in a statement.

Nearly all adult smokers started smoking as teenagers. The FDA estimates that, if finalized, nicotine caps could prevent 48 million children and young adults from becoming addicted. The agency also predicts that nearly 13 million people will quit smoking within a year.

A 2018 study estimated that nicotine caps would lead to 16 million fewer people becoming addicted to smoking by 2060. According to the study's predictions, this number will increase to 33.1 million people by 2100.

"Given these substantial benefits, we urge the incoming Trump administration to continue finalizing and implementing this rule," Yolonda C. Richardson, president and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said in a statement stated in a statement.

Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who served as FDA commissioner during Trump's first administration, said the FDA's proposal is "an important step toward a broader vision" of how the agency can use its powers to help Smokers quit combustible cigarettes.

Gottlieb added that adults who still want to get nicotine will have a market for "properly regulated, non-combustible products like pouches and e-cigarettes that don't cause all the death and illness associated with smoking."

That doesn't mean e-cigarettes and other products not covered by the new proposal are safe. For example, e-cigarettes are known to contain other toxic chemicals that can cause asthma, lung disease, and heart disease.

"Teenagers should not use any tobacco products, and adults who do not currently use tobacco products should not start using them immediately," King said.

The public will have a chance to comment on the FDA's proposal until mid-September.