FDA regulation of tobacco
U.S. House votes 298-112 in favor
By Wayne Rhodes, Editor, Faith in Action
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would give the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory power over the tobacco industry for the first time. The measure, passed 298-112, gives FDA authority to regulate, but not ban, cigarettes and other tobacco products.
The Senate could consider its version of the bill this month. The White House supports the legislation, which is a shift from the Bush administration that threatened last year to veto a similar House-passed bill.
The Senate could consider its version of the bill this month.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Henry Waxman, (D-Calif.), the bill's sponsor, said “this is truly a historic day” in the fight against tobacco. "Today we have moved to place the regulation of tobacco under FDA,” he said, “in order to protect the public health."
Waxman and Sen. Edward Kennedy, (D-Mass.) have promoted legislation giving FDA regulatory authority over tobacco products since the Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that the agency did not have that authority.
Brink of historic action
The president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Matthew Myers, lauded the House vote. He said the vote puts Congress “on the brink of historic action to reduce tobacco use, the nation’s No. 1 cause of preventable death.”
Myers urged the Senate to quickly pass this legislation and resist all efforts to weaken it.
“There are few steps Congress can take that would make a bigger difference for America’s health than to pass this long-overdue legislation,” Myers stated. “It will end the special protection the tobacco industry has enjoyed for too long and protect our children and the nation’s health instead.”
It will end the special protection the tobacco industry has enjoyed.
Myers applauded Waxman and Rep. Todd Platts (R-Pa.) for their leadership in introducing this strong legislation and quickly moving it forward.
The 298-112 vote underscores the broad, bipartisan support for this legislation and provides strong momentum for enacting it into law this year, according to Myers. He said the legislation has been endorsed by more than 1,000 public health, faith, medical and other organizations. A list of endorsers is available at Endorsers.
Myers cited a poll last year found that 70% of U.S. voters support FDA regulation of tobacco products. Poll details are available at Research.
The legislation has also endorsed by scientific authorities including the Institute of Medicine and the President’s Cancer Panel, Myers pointed out.
400,000 U.S. deaths annually
“Tobacco use kills more than 400,000 Americans and costs the nation $96 billion in health-care bills each year,” Myers said. “Every day, more than 1,000 children become new regular smokers. Yet tobacco products are exempt from the FDA’s common-sense regulations that apply to virtually every other product we consume from food to drugs to cosmetics.”
Tobacco products are exempt from the FDA’s common-sense regulations.
Myers said this lack of FDA regulation allows tobacco companies to market “their deadly and addictive products to children; deceive consumers about the harm their products cause; make changes to their products without disclosing them, such as manipulating nicotine levels in cigarettes; and resist any meaningful change to make their products less harmful.”
Under the House-approved legislation, FDA could:
Restrict tobacco advertising and promotions, especially to children.
Stop illegal sales of tobacco products to children.
Require larger, more effective health warnings on tobacco packages and advertising.
Ban misleading health claims such as “light” and “low-tar,” and strictly regulate all health claims about tobacco products to ensure they are scientifically proven and do not discourage current tobacco users from quitting or encourage new users to start.
Require tobacco companies to disclose the contents of tobacco products, as well as changes in products and research about their health effects.
Empower the FDA to require changes in tobacco products, such as the removal or reduction of harmful ingredients or the reduction of nicotine levels.
Fully fund the FDA’s new tobacco-related responsibilities with a user fee on tobacco companies so no resources are taken from the FDA’s current work.
Alcohol, Other Addictions & Health Care
For more on alcohol and other additions, visit the Alcohol & Other Addictions page on the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society website: Alcohol & Other Addictions.
The Rev. Cynthia Abrams directs the General Board of Church & Society’s work area on Alcohol, Other Addictions & Health Care. Through her efforts, the agency supports stricter regulation of tobacco, an increase in tobacco taxes, a ban on all fruit or candy-flavored tobacco products and smoke-free initiatives. It also works to stop tobacco advertising, especially that which targets young people, and opposing tobacco sales on the Internet. GBCS believes it is important to monitory the tobacco industry and holding it accountable for its products.
Information about tobacco, calls to action and other resources are available at Tobacco, on the agency’s website, www.umc-gbcs.org.
Action Network
Abrams supervises an “Action Network” that provides legislative updates, educational resources and identifies opportunities to act on issues involving alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, gambling and pornography. Information focuses on addiction recovery, prevention and regulation. She issues “action alerts” periodically through e-mail.
Joining the Alcohol & Other Addictions Action Network is free: click on “My GBCS” on the General Board of Church & Society website, www.umc-gbcs.org. You can also contact Donna Brandyberry, (202) 488-5641.
Cynthia Abrams can be reached at (202) 488-5636.
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