SILVER SPRING, Md. -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended its deadlines for public comment on nicotine levels of combustible cigarettes, flavors in tobacco products and regulation on premium cigars by 30 days into mid-July, the agency announced.

Earlier in the spring, the FDA announced that it would open up 90-day public-comment periods on three critical areas affecting the production and sale of tobacco products: nicotine levels, flavors and premium cigars.

While slightly staggered, the original deadlines for these Advance Notices for Public Rule Making (ANPRMs) were scheduled to come up in June.

Here are the new deadlines for the three ANPRMs:

• Tobacco Product Standard for Nicotine Level of Combusted Cigarettes: July 16
• Regulation of Flavors in Tobacco Products: July 19
• Regulation of Premium Cigars: July 25

In addition, the agency also extended its public-comment deadline for input on illicit trade as it relates to tobacco. The new deadline is July 16, regarding what the agency calls its Draft Concept Paper: Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products after Implementation of an FDA Product Standard.

In an effort to encourage retailers to participate in the process, NATO, a Lakeville, Minn.-based tobacco-retailing association, recently published a list of points the group believes should be made about nicotine levels, flavored-tobacco products and premium cigars. It also outlined ways retailers could communicate their comments to the FDA.