FDA to Regulate Tobacco Products?

It's hard to believe that commercial cigarettes, a product that kills upwards of 5 million people on this planet every year, is not only legal, but has had, up to now, almost no checks and balances on how it is manufactured. That may be finally due to change following this week's vote in the U.S. House of Representatives, where a bill that would allow the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate tobacco products passed 326 to 102. This landmark legislation could dramatically affect how Big Tobacco is allowed to produce cigarettes in the future.

While the FDA would not have the authority to ban tobacco products completely, it would have power in a couple of key areas:

• No longer would tobacco companies be allowed to shroud the manufacturing process for cigarettes in secrecy. They would be required to disclose specific details about ingredients in their tobacco products - including research results about cigarette additives long suspected to boost the addictive qualities of nicotine.

• Although the bill would not allow the FDA to eliminate nicotine from cigarettes, regulation of the amount of nicotine in cigarettes could be closely controlled. Additionally, the FDA would be able to regulate and/or eliminate other harmful ingredients used in the manufacture of cigarette products.

Other highlights of the bill include:

• Warning labels on cigarette packs would include images of the destructive diseases that follow smoking.

• Outdoor tobacco advertisements would have to be in black and white to reduce their appeal.

• Tobacco manufacturers would no longer be allowed to use the terms "light" or "ultralight" in advertisements for cigarettes.

The White House has indicated that President Bush will veto the bill if it's approved by the Senate.

House Votes to Let FDA Regulate Tobacco Industry - Wall Street Journal

Related:

• Shocking Smoking Facts

• The Chemicals in Cigarettes