Health
Tobacco regulation bill OK'd
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 21, 2008
A bill to grant the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco products was approved April 2 by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
The legislation was applauded by the AMA, which encouraged the full House to add its approval. "Given what we know about the dangers of smoking, it is astonishing that tobacco products are one of the least regulated products in our society," said AMA President Ron Davis, MD.
The measure would amend the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to provide for the regulation of tobacco products by the Secretary of Health and Human Services through the FDA. The legislation also provides resources to carry out these new responsibilities by imposing user fees on tobacco manufacturers and importers.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/04/21/hlbf0421.htm.
