The Biden administration on Monday proposed capping the amount of nicotine in combustible tobacco at a level that is significantly lower than the current level in cigarettes.

If the Food and Drug Administration’s proposed rule is finalized, the U.S. would be the first country to take this step.

“Today’s proposal envisions a future where it would be less likely for young people to use cigarettes and more individuals who currently smoke could quit or switch to less harmful products,” FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said. “This action, if finalized, could save many lives and dramatically reduce the burden of severe illness and disability, while also saving huge amounts of money.”

The last-minute push by President Biden’s team follows a decision not to follow through on its pledge to ban menthol cigarettes, an effort that got tangled in election-year politics.

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death. It kills over 480,000 Americans each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More than 4 in 10 Americans smoked cigarettes in 1965, a rate that declined to 12.5% by 2020.

Capping nicotine would be a major effort to decrease the rate further. While the toxins in combustible tobacco cause health problems, the nicotine is what keeps people hooked.

The FDA proposal would not ban any cigarettes or other tobacco products. However, it would cap the nicotine level at 0.7 milligrams per gram of tobacco in cigarettes and certain other combusted tobacco products, which is significantly lower than the average concentration in these products on the market today.

Public health advocates are cheering the move, though it faces a long regulatory road and could be thwarted or reined in if the incoming administration feels it amounts to governmental overreach.

Tobacco company lobbyists are expected to contest the move.

• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.