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FDA to Tackle Tobacco

Monday, June 22, 2009

It's official. The Food and Drug Administration now has the power to regulate cigarettes and tobacco products. In tonight's program, NBR's Stephanie Dhue examines the potential impact of the bill President Obama signed into law. Learn more about the topic here.



Discuss this story on XChange - The NBR Blog.

Main Parts of the Law

Here's a summary of what the new tobacco law will do:

Tobacco Regulation

- New FDA office to regulate Content, Marketing and Sale

- Approval over "light" and "low tar" cigarettes

- Prohibits FDA from banning tobacco products

Related NBR Stories & Links

• 04-01-09: Pay Up If You Have to Light Up
• 07-25-08: The Gas Price Crisis Takes a Toll on Tobacco
• 04-15-08: A Judge Sparks Big Trouble for Big Tobacco
• 10-31-06: How Much Liability is Too Much Liablity for Big Tobacco?

External Links/Articles*

• Altria Group
  Altria Group is the parent company of Philip Morris. This links to a June 22, 2009 press release issued by Altria titled, "Altria Group Supports Enactment of Tobacco Industry Regulation."
• "Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act"
  This links to the version of the act that both the House of Representatives and the Senate passed. The version is hosted on the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) website.
• Public Citizen
  Public Citizen is "is a national, nonprofit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1971 to represent consumer interests in Congress, the executive branch and the courts." Dr. Sydney Wolfe, acting president of Public Citizen, is interviewed in Stephanie Dhue's report. This links to a list of tobacco litigation the organization is tracking.
• Schaffer Library of Drug Policy
  The Schaffer Library offers information "documenting the failure of the war on some drugs." This links to a "History of Tobacco Regulation" prepared for the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse in the 1970's.
• Tobacco.org
  "Tobacco.org is a free resource center focusing on tobacco and smoking issues." Among other things, the site contains information about various lawsuits and referendums impacting the industry.
• The White House
  This links to a copy of remarks President Obama made as he signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act on June 22, 2009.

*Clicking these external links will take you off the NBR web site on PBS.org. NBR has no affiliation with these sites.