Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/646524
STAFF: Mark Pursell, C.E.O., mark@ipcpr.org; Kip Talley, Sr. Dir., Federal Legislative Affairs, kip@ipcpr. org; Matt Dogali, Sr. Dir., State Legislative Affairs, matt@ipcpr.org; Rachel Hyde, Legislative Affairs Manager, rachel@ipcpr.org; Dawn Conger, Sr. Dir., Assoc. Member Relations, dawn@ipcpr.org. OFFICERS: Craig Cass, President (Charlotte, N.C.); Ken P. Neumann, 1st V.P., (Libertyville, Ill.); John Anderson, 2nd V.P., (Washington, D.C.); Greg Zimmerman, Treasurer, (Lemoyne, Pa.); Scott Regina, Secretary, (Virginia Beach, Va.); Finnie Helmuth, Ex-Officio, (Cockeysville, Md.). BOARD MEMBERS: Veronica Fenner, Colorado Springs, Co.; Terry Gallagher, Boulder, Co.; Dave Garofalo, Salem, N.H.; Mike Howe, Tampa, Fla.; Mame Kendall, Bridgeville, Pa.; Todd Naifeh, Oklahoma City, Ok.; Mike Peacock, Euless, Texas; Kent Pennington, Addison, Texas; Vartan Seferian, Phoenix, Ariz.; Reagan Starner, Tuscaloosa, Al.; Jim Young, Pinellas Park, Fla. International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailer's Association (IPCPR), 513 Capitol Court N.E., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20002, Tel: (202) 621-8064, Web: www.ipcpr.org; Email: info@ipcpr.org, Twitter: @theIPCPR. 12 SMOKESHOP December 2015 LOCKWOOD TRADE JOURNAL CO., INC. 3743 Crescent Street, 2nd Floor Long Island City, NY 11101 Tel: (212) 391-2060, Fax: (212) 827-0945 sales@smokeshopmag.com www.smokeshopmag.com NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA, CARIBBEAN Bob Olesen, Advertising Sales Director Tel: (212) 391-2060, ext. 134 b.olesen@lockwoodpublications.com AUSTRIA, FRANCE, GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, UNITED KINGDOM Robert M. Lockwood, President Tel: (212) 391-2060, ext. 109 robert@lockwoodpublications.com BENELUX, IBERIA, INDONESIA, INDOCHINA, SOUTH AMERICA, ITALY, SPAIN Frederick A. Lockwood, Vice President Tel: (212) 391-2060, ext. 107 f.lockwood@lockwoodpublications.com BULGARIA, GREECE, SCANDINAVIA, TURKEY Rob Lockwood Jr., Publisher Tel: (212) 391-2060, ext. 130 rob@lockwoodpublications.com ASIA, AFRICA, AUSTRALIA, OCEANA Kelly Hobbs Tel: (212) 391-2060, ext. 106 k.hobbs@lockwoodpublications.com EASTERN EUROPE Frank Schuetze, Sales Representative Tel: +(49)(30) 645-7212 Fax: +(49)(30) 6409-1350 f.schuetze@lockwoodpublications.com George Lockwood, Special Sales Representative Tel: (413) 548-9700, Fax: (413) 548-9722 167 Shutesbury Road, Leveret, MA 01054 lockwood.george@gmail.com Lockwood Trade Journal Co., Inc. publishes trade and consumer magazines covering the entire tobacco industry including Smoke, Tobacco International, Tobacco Products International, and the Tobacco International Buyers' Guide & Global Directory. It also produces the EuroTab tobacco merchandise trade show in Eastern Europe (lockwoodpublications.com). Smokeshop Magazine is printed with EnviroTech inks for web offset printing that have renewable resource content of approximately 27 percent, including vegetable oils and pine resin. T H E I N D U S T RY A U T H O R I T Y O N T O B A C C O R E TA I L I N G Official Publication of the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association Year-end News & Notes from the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association > IPCPR officially moved to its new headquarters in Washington, D.C. on December 1. The new address is: 513 Capitol Court NE, Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 20002, and the association's new phone number is (202) 621-8064. > Though an FDA exemption and predicate date change were not included in the Omnibus Appropriations bill [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016], the IPCPR remains committed to continuing our legislative and regulatory fight for the premium cigar industry and small business retailers we represent. IPCPR supported both issues throughout the process and met often with legis- lators to urge support and passage. Any report to the contrary is false. Heavy lobbying by anti-tobacco health groups, a group of Senate Democrats, and the desire to regulate new products caused Congressional leaders to remove both provisions that would have protected over 35,000 domestic jobs in the premi- um cigar sector. IPCPR members will be called upon to advocate on behalf of legislation that exempts premium cigars. That is the lasting solution to any future misguided regulation. — Mark Pursell, IPCPR c.e.o. > The current IPCPR Federal strategy has three tracks: • Recognizing legislation in the U.S. Congress and promoting bills that define and exempt premium cigars from federal regulation through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). • Maintaining a coordinated effort to oppose regulations with the FDA through meetings with administrative officials at the White House, Health and Human Services (HHS), FDA, and the Center for Tobacco Products. • Exploring and executing any legal options the IPCPR may have should the FDA release a rule that is detrimental to our industry. —Kip Talley, IPCPR senior legislative director > Key state trends in 2015 included efforts to increase age requirements to purchase, consume, and possess tobacco products, most notably Hawaii be- coming the first state to pass a law requiring customers to be 21 years of age to purchase tobacco products. In 2016, more states will see age increase legislation as well as increased smoking bans. Currently there are 27 state tobacco retailing associations and 17 cigar councils. With the assistance of the IPCPR, several state associations had success in defeating or keeping their tax excise rates the same in their states: Louisiana, Nebraska, Ohio, and Alabama. —Matt Dogali, IPCPR Senior Director of State Government Affairs IPCPR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE