Tobacco Regulation Bill Loses Some Support
For years, public-health advocates have fought for government regulation of cigarettes. But now, some health advocates have turned against a bill pending in the U.S. Congress that would give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate tobacco products, The Hill reported Sept. 8.
Several state and local health activists have broken away from Washington, D.C.-based health groups to oppose the FDA regulation bill. They are concerned that the bill would do more to increase the market dominance of Altria Group, the parent company of Philip Morris USA, than reduce smoking-related illnesses. Altria Group is the only tobacco company to support FDA regulation of the industry.
"We feel that this legislation, if enacted, would not only be detrimental to the public's health, but would cause severe, possibly destructive, harm to the entire tobacco-control movement," said Michael Siegel, an associate professor at Boston University's School of Public Health.
According to Siegel, the legislation would limit the FDA's authority and prevent it from developing meaningful regulations. At the same time, FDA oversight could give the public the impression that regulated cigarettes were safer.
But Matt Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said the legislation, which was crafted with input from the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society, is sound.
"There are a few isolated individuals who have complained about the process. But this outcome was the result of years of discussions within the public health community. You couldn't get everyone in the public-health community to believe today is Tuesday. This bill has as broad and deep support as any piece of legislation I've worked on," Myers said.
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