Federal Tobacco Regulation:
The Need for Strong FDA Authority to Regulate Tobacco

The American Academy of Pediatrics supports giving the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strong authority to regulate tobacco products and tobacco marketing to children and adolescents. The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (H.R. 1108/S. 625), will adopt a science-based approach to protecting children and the public from the dangers of tobacco.

SMOKING IS A PEDIATRIC DISEASE

• Almost all smokers start during their teens or earlier.
• Every day, 4,000 children in the U.S. have their first cigarette.
• Every day, 1,000 children in the U.S. become daily smokers.
• Almost one-quarter of high school students smoke.
• Smoking increases a child’s likelihood of using illegal drugs.
• One-third of youth smokers will die prematurely from smoking.
• Every year, 30,000 births are adversely affected by tobacco. Smoking increases the risk for low-birth weight babies, preterm delivery, perinatal death, and sudden infant death syndrome.

More information: Fact sheet on tobacco's harm to kids. (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids)

WHAT THE BILL DOES

• Bans flavored tobacco products that attract youth smokers.
• Limits advertising to youth audiences.
• Strengthens enforcement of retail age restrictions.
• Bans terms such as “light,” "mild," and "low."
• Controls “reduced risk” claims and products that discourage smokers from quitting.
• Imposes bigger and better warning labels to resonate with youth.
• Requires tobacco company disclosure of cigarette ingredients.
• Allows FDA to control ingredient and nicotine levels.
• Funds program through industry user fees paid by tobacco companies, not taxes or FDA appropriations.

More information: View a detailed summary of the bill's provisions. (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids)

FDA IS THE RIGHT AGENCY TO REGULATE TOBACCO

Funded through industry user fees, FDA would establish a new center to regulate tobacco products that would not detract from FDA’s mission. FDA’s science-based approach is needed to:

• Ensure that warning labels are effective for children.
• Remove harmful additives from cigarettes.
• Prevent so-called “light” and “reduced risk” products from discouraging quitting and making tobacco seem less dangerous.
• Reduce tobacco marketing that influences children.

More information: Read more on why the FDA is the right agency to regulate tobacco. (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids)

PASS THE BILL THIS YEAR

Children shouldn’t have to wait any more for this long-overdue legislation. Pediatricians, the American people, and the public health community strongly support the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (H.R. 1108/S. 625).

AAP CHAPTERS IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION

Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Alaska Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
California Chapter 3 of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Delaware Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Florida Pediatric Society/Florida Chapter AAP
Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Hawaii Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Idaho Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
New Mexico Pediatric Society
New York 1 Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
New York 2 Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
New York 3 Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
North Carolina Pediatric Society
Oklahoma Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
South Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Texas Pediatric Society, the Texas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Intermountain Pediatric Society/AAP Utah Chapter
Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
West Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics

More information: See the national support letter for the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act signed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the above chapters, and over 600 other organizations.

QUESTIONS

If you have any questions, please contact Mark Del Monte, AAP Department of Federal Affairs, (800) 336-5475, ext. 3305, or mdelmonte@aap.org.