RESPONSE TO NCI REPORT ON LIGHT AND LOW-TAR CIGARETTES

REPS. WAXMAN AND DINGELL CALL FOR FDA REGULATION OF TOBACCO

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representatives Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) and John D. Dingell (D-MI) said a National Cancer Institute report released today confirmed the urgent need for legislation granting the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco. The NCI study details the 50-year history of light and low-tar cigarettes and their impact on public health. The report finds that scientific evidence fails to show a public health benefit from changes in cigarette design and manufacturing over the last half century. The reports concludes that "the reality that many smokers chose these products as an alternative to cessation . . . makes this deception an urgent public health issue."

"Without FDA regulation, the tobacco companies were able to mislead millions into believing that light and low-tar cigarettes were safer," said Rep. Waxman. "Tobacco companies must be required to provide scientific evidence for any claims made about safety or carcinogenicity and FDA must have the authority to verify these claims as well stop dangerous and deceptive marketing practices."

"There are no ifs, ands or butts - tobacco, low tar or not, kills," said Rep. Dingell. "This report underscores the need for FDA regulation of tobacco products and further highlights the fact that the tobacco industry cannot be trusted to fully disclose the grim facts concerning their products."

Reps. Waxman and Dingell have introduced legislation with Rep. Ganske (H.R. 1097 and H.R. 1043) to provide FDA with authority to regulate tobacco. In addition, Rep. Waxman has introduced the Child Tobacco Use Prevention Act (H.R. 1044), comprehensive tobacco legislation that, in addition to FDA authority, includes performance standards to reduce youth smoking, a national policy on environmental tobacco smoke, and a new nationwide public education campaign.