( CNN ) -- Menthol cigarettes are no more harmful than regular cigarettes , tobacco industry representatives argued Thursday as a federal advisory panel opened a two-day meeting to consider whether to ban the sale of those cigarettes . Menthol cigarettes , which account for one-quarter of the cigarettes sold in the United States , have been under scrutiny by public health officials and public health watchdog groups . Critics claim the flavor makes them more addictive and denounce the marketing campaigns that they say target menthol cigarettes specifically at minority smokers . According to a study published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research , menthol cigarettes are favored by three-quarters of African-American smokers . But Leonard Jones , director of marketing at Lorillard Tobacco Company , said that `` ethnicity does not play a role '' in marketing strategies for the Newport menthol cigarette . `` We do n't collect or retain information on ethnicity in our marketing data base . '' Representatives from Phillip Morris USA , R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and Lorillard Tobacco Company plan to present scientific evidence that they say shows menthol cigarettes are no more harmful than non-menthol cigarettes . The meeting , moderated by the Food and Drug Administration 's Center for Tobacco Products , is being held in Rockville , Maryland . The 12-member federal advisory panel , which is in charge of overseeing the implementation of the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act , is scheduled to makes recommendations on menthol cigarettes by March 23 , 2011 . The committee includes three non-voting members representing the tobacco industry . The panel could decide to ban the sale of menthol cigarettes or order that the levels of flavoring in them be reduced . There is no evidence showing higher numbers of deaths among menthol cigarette smokers than among non-menthol cigarette smokers , said Jane Lewis of Altria Client Services , which represents Phillip Morris USA . And `` at the end , that 's what matters , '' she added . The meeting is being streamed live on the FDA 's website . According to the agenda , participants will discuss the characterization of menthol cigarettes , clinical effects of menthol , biomarkers of disease risk , marketing data , and population effects .
NEW : `` Ethnicity does not play a role '' in marketing strategies , tobacco official says . Tobacco industry calls menthol cigarettes `` no more harmful than non-menthol cigarettes '' Critics claim the menthol flavor makes them more addictive . By MICHAEL ROSTON and EMILY SWANSON DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS