I’ll make this quick, because I need to do some work, but the L.A. Times reports some really good news today: bi-partisan legislation that would give the FDA regulatory authority over tobacco products has been introduced in the House and Senate and has a really good chance of getting through.
Details on the flip...
I write about cancer everyday and have written several articles – including one coming out next week on new smokeless tobacco products – about smoking, tobacco, and cancer. [DISCLAIMER: The comments and views expressed in this diary are mine alone; they do not represent or were not in any way influenced by the views of my employer.]
Of course, smoking is the single greatest health hazard in the world today. And, yet, tobacco products go unregulated in the U.S., thanks to the pervasive and formidable influence of the tobacco industry in our political system at every level of government.
Now, finally, it is looking very likely that the FDA could gain regulatory authority over tobacco products.
Under the bill, the agency would also gain the power to restrict tobacco advertising, require stronger warnings on cigarette packs, mandate reductions in nicotine, regulate additives and set stiff penalties for selling to minors.
I haven't looked at this bill at all and haven't read much about it recently, so there may be some serious loopholes in here. But I believe this is very similar to a bill introduced in 2004 by Sen. Kennedy that made it through the Senate, but stumbled in the House (as the article notes, thanks to the efforts of Republican leaders like the Bugman Delay). As I recall at the time, there was general agreement in the public health community that the bill was pretty good.
Hopefully this will make it through Congress. It really seems like a no-brainer for Congress and would actually demonstrate that folks on the Hill can agree on something that will demonstrably benefit their constituents and, more importantly, save lives. And if it does get through the House and Senate, I find it hard to believe Bush would veto it.