On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) introduced a new proposed regulation that would require tobacco companies to significantly reduce nicotine levels in cigarettes, most cigars, and other combustible tobacco products available across the country.

This proposed regulation won’t ban nicotine entirely; instead, it sets a limit of 0.7 milligrams of nicotine per gram of tobacco in cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco, and most cigars. This lower threshold is designed to be insufficient for addiction to take hold and is noticeably less than current market levels.

However, the nicotine cap does not extend to vaping products, nicotine pouches like Zyn, hookahs, or high-end cigars.

The public has until September 15 to provide feedback on the proposed regulation. The FDA will take this feedback into account before making decisions about implementing the nicotine limit, which would be overseen by the next administration, led by President-elect Donald Trump, who has nominated Johns Hopkins surgeon Marty Makary to head the agency responsible for regulating drugs, devices, food, and tobacco.

This reduction initiative was initially suggested during Trump’s prior administration by FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb.

The FDA noted that the intent behind this rule is to deter underage smoking and to assist adult smokers in switching to safer alternatives with lower exposure to harmful substances. Nevertheless, the agency maintains that no tobacco product is completely safe and encourages both children and adults to steer clear of all tobacco products.

“This proposal opens the door to a significant discussion on addressing one of the most lethal consumer products ever and fundamentally alters the use of tobacco products in America,” said Brian King, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, in a statement.

The FDA believes that this nicotine level is low enough to prevent addiction and cites research indicating that smokers are unlikely to compensate for the reduced nicotine by smoking more.

Supporters of anti-tobacco measures praised the FDA’s proposed nicotine limit but suggested it lacks comprehensiveness.

Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association, expressed that flavors and marketing tactics attract children to tobacco products, but it is nicotine that leads to addiction.

“Rendering tobacco products nonaddictive would substantially decrease the likelihood of young people becoming addicted during their experimentation,” Wimmer stated. However, to thoroughly address the health impacts of tobacco across various communities in the country, we encourage the FDA to lower nicotine levels to nonaddictive standards for all tobacco products, including all types of cigars, hookah, and e-cigarettes.”