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Cancer Community Calls for Passage of Historic Legislation to Give FDA Authority to Regulate Tobacco Products

July 30, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- July 30, 2008 -- Members of the U.S. House of Representatives have an historic opportunity this week to significantly impact public health by passing legislation to grant the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate the production, marketing and sale of tobacco products. If enacted, the "Family Smoking Prevention Tobacco Control Act" would ban marketing and sales to kids; require disclosure of ingredients and larger, more specific health warnings; empower the FDA to require tobacco companies to reduce or eliminate harmful ingredients in their products; ban candy- and fruit-flavored cigarettes and eliminate false health claims. In short, this bill will save lives.

“For too long the tobacco industry has been afforded a free pass to promote a product, including to children, that when used as directed can kill,” said Dan Smith, president, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).  “Millions of Americans touched by cancer are depending on House leadership to bring this vote to the floor and are urging elected officials to support a bill that can single-handedly improve public health.”

ACS CAN, the partner advocacy organization of the American Cancer Society, has steadfastly supported this bill and is running an ad this week in several Capitol Hill publications that calls on elected officials to do the right thing by passing legislation that has the power to stop Big Tobacco’s egregious marketing practices to children, 4,000 of whom try their first cigarette each day.  The ad pictures a group of children on one side and a cigarette on the other, urging legislators to “Choose Wisely.”  To see a copy of the ad, log onto www.fightcancer.org/FDAads and click on “FDA Campaign Ad.”

Tobacco is virtually the only consumable good left unregulated by the FDA.  The industry exploits its autonomy by spending almost $40 million every day aggressively marketing its products, especially to children, with enticing candy and fruit-flavored cigarettes that help mask the harsh taste of tobacco.

Nearly 700 public health, medical and faith-based organizations from across the country support granting FDA the authority to rein in the tobacco industry. In the decade this legislation has been in the works, never before has this public health initiative received such widespread support not only in Congress, but also by the public, regardless of political party or ideology.

ACS CAN is the nonprofit, nonpartisan partner advocacy organization of the American Cancer Society, dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage lawmakers, candidates and government officials to support laws and policies that will make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer. For more information, visit https://www.fightcancer.org/.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Alissa Havens
Phone: (202) 661-5772
Email: [email protected]

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