Almost a year ago president Obama signed a bill into law giving FDA (Food and Drug Administration) a broad authority over the regulation of tobacco products. FDA authority includes regulation of distribution, manufacturing and marketing in the US. The goals of the bill are:
• To set national standards of production, disclosure and amount of supplement ingredients;
• To monitor manufacturers' R&D of new less toxic and harmful
cigarette tobacco as well as introduction and promotion of this and related products;
• To regulate the levels of tar, nicotine and other harmful toxins;
• To oversee all the research (even previously unavailable) carried out by tobacco companies and the full disclosure of research findings;
• To make sure that underage smokers are not sold tobacco products;
• To promote cessation of smoking,
• To strengthen legislation against illicit tobacco trade.
Attempts to pass this kind of bill began somewhat 30 years ago but bared no fruit. Now after much deliberations and time lost the bill was passed and … challenged by tobacco giants RJ Reynolds and Lorillard and some smaller manufacturers. Petitioners want to "kill" some of FDA provisions claiming First Amendment violation. FDA wants manufacturers to increase the size of the warning label to cover the top front (where the logo is usually placed) featuring images of diseased lungs.
In turn manufacturers complain about the lack of space for their own promotional purposes and violation of the First Amendment. Companies claim they should be able to advertise their products to adult responsible smokers.
Interestingly enough, Altria the largest tobacco company in the US (Marlboro cigarettes) didn't join the news and supported FDA decision.
