Senate gives FDA authority over tobacco regulation

The Senate today approved the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act by a 79-17 vote, which gives the FDA the authority to regulate the manufacturing, marketing and advertising of tobacco.

That means the bill will give the FDA authority to restrict marketing and sales to youth and require detailed disclosure of ingredients, allow FDA to require changes to tobacco products and require larger, more specific health warnings, according to the American College of Cardiology.

“After many years of trying to pass this legislation, today Congress has taken a stand and this goes a long way in keeping tobacco products out of the hands of children,” said Jack Lewin, MD, CEO of the ACC, in a press release applauding the Senate vote. The ACC said that nearly one-fifth of deaths from CVDs are attributable to smoking.

This action has been ongoing since at least 1999, according to Timothy Gardner, MD, President of the American Heart Association. AHA has been an active public health group in getting FDA control over tobacco.

“We expect the FDA to be much more effective in dealing with this major public health threat, this major preventable risk factor for CVD and cancer,” Gardner, medical director of Christiana Care’s Center for Heart and Vascular Health in Wilmington, Dela., told Cardiology Today in an interview. “Virtually every cardiologist will be pleased with the additional effectiveness of public policy that will come from the FDA having control here. I think I can speak for all CV specialists who understand how distressing it is to see that almost 20% of our adult population still smoke…”

“I’m really thrilled about this,” he said of Thursday’s vote.

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Like the ACC, AHA released a statement from CEO Nancy Brown, calling the vote a “bold and courageous step to ensure a healthier future for our children…

“The legislation will allow us to protect them from a dirty business that has infiltrated school grounds and homes for many generations,” Brown said in the statement. “Big Tobacco’s irresponsible marketing campaigns have made it increasingly difficult to break the cycle of addiction and save lives.”

Both ACC and AHA commended Sen. Ted Kennedy, Sen. Christopher Todd, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for their part in getting the legislation approved.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also released a statement from Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

“Today’s vote was a victory in the fight to protect public health, and reduce the death and suffering tobacco products cause every year,” Sebelius said. “This legislation is a key part of our plans to cut health care costs and reduce the number of Americans who smoke. I hope the House will act quickly and approve this legislation. Our department looks forward to implementing this critical legislation and continuing our work to reduce tobacco use.”

“Each year, Americans pay nearly $100 billion in added health care costs due to smoking. Each day, about 1,000 young people under the age of 18 become regular smokers,” said President Barack Obama in a White House statement. “My administration is committed to protecting our children and reforming our health care system – and moving forward with common-sense tobacco control measures is an integral part of that process. I look forward to signing this bill into law, and to working with HHS Secretary Sebelius and FDA Commissioner [Margaret] Hamburg, MD, on its implementation.” – by Judith Rusk