The Daily News

By a sizable margin, the Senate passed Thursday a bill that authorizes the Food and Drug Administration a first-time power to regulate the manufacturing, marketing and sale of tobacco products.

The Family Smoking and Tobacco Control Act, which was approved 79-19 by the Senate, will also allow the FDA to impose order changes to the ingredients of the products.

While applauded by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and other politicians as a health prevention measure, many health officials are still divided by the issue.

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Jason Bergstrand, tobacco prevention coordinator for Richland County Health Department, said some feel the bill may do more harm than good. One of the biggest issues on hand is the fact that Philip Morris, the nation's top tobacco company, helped author the bill.

"It does not make sense to have an industry write its own regulation policy, or have non-voting positions on the advisory board," he said. "This is even more of a concern, since in May the Federal Court of Appeals upheld a recent ruling that tobacco companies continue to engage in racketeering practices."

Bergstrand added that the ruling states racketeering will likely continue in the industry and it cannot be trusted.

There will be two hearings Friday to explain the consequences of the federal bill, he said.

"Obviously, nobody knows how it will all shake out," said Bergstrand, who is currently attending a national tobacco conference in Phoenix, Ariz.

Bergstrand said he was informed that a label change to cigarettes would likely be the first thing to come out of the bill.

"Which possibly means a more aggressive labeling campaign, potentially including pictures on cigarette boxes," he said.

Comments

Ariadne wrote on Jun 20, 2009 1:45 PM:

" Since when is the FDA not a part of government? "




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none wrote on Jun 18, 2009 12:17 PM:

" A human chooses to smoke. No one comes to their home and forces a cigarette into their hands, so how are tobacco companies terrorists?? Why do people choose to have fake nails put on? No ones is forcing them to do that, so it is no different if someone chooses to smoke. They know what they are doing to themselves and still choose to do it. I think we should call tanning booths terrorists then, too, because they have a potential for diseases, too. "




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lsin wrote on Jun 17, 2009 6:04 PM:

" These tobacco companies need to be charged with murder. These people are the real terrorists in this country and because they have so much money they will never be held accountable for there actions. Tobbaco companies and drug dealers are the exact same thing except that executives for big tobacco wear suits and pay off all of the politicians. We can't stand for this anymore and we need criminal indictments to say the least. "




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Shirley Bockmier wrote on Jun 13, 2009 5:47 PM:

" I's about time. After countless people became addicted to the tobacco products. People became ill with cancers and other tobacco induced illnesses. Many people died from it's use. What a shame. At least now the government is going to give the job of controlling and monitoring to the Food and Drug Administration. I hope they do a better job than the government has done. "




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