Altria Group and Philip Morris USA Applaud Today’s Introduction of Senate and House Bills Granting the FDA Regulatory Authority Over Tobacco Products

Today, Senators Mike DeWine (R-OH) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) introduced bipartisan legislation that would provide the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with comprehensive, meaningful and effective authority to regulate cigarettes and other tobacco products.  Significantly, Representatives Tom Davis (R-VA) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) today introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“Altria Group and our domestic tobacco company, Philip Morris USA, enthusiastically endorse passage of both bills in their entirety,” said Steven C. Parrish, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Altria Group, Inc.  “We look forward to working with all stakeholders in support of this legislation.”

“As with all legislative initiatives, there were some difficult choices and important compromises by everyone involved,” Parrish added.  “This is a truly historic opportunity.”

According to Michael E. Szymanczyk, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Philip Morris USA, “These bills would establish, for the first time, a comprehensive and coherent national tobacco policy in this country and, importantly, we believe they provide momentum for passage of tobacco grower buyout legislation which is critical for America’s tobacco farmers.

“As the Congress considers the important legislation introduced today, Altria and Philip Morris USA continue to believe that the best way to secure passage of FDA regulation of tobacco products is to combine it with legislation providing fair compensation to tobacco quota holders and growers.”

The bills introduced today contain a wide array of important provisions that would greatly benefit consumers, the public health and all legitimate participants in the tobacco industry.  Among the bill’s many important provisions are:

• The bills would give FDA the authority to impose performance standards for the design and manufacture of cigarettes in order to reduce the harm caused by smoking.  Under the bills, FDA would, as part of its effort to reduce or eliminate harmful ingredients and smoke constituents, consider whether a new performance standard would significantly increase the demand for contraband cigarettes.  We believe this is an important consideration in order to prevent the unintended consequences of black market cigarettes.  It is also important that the bills provide that FDA cannot ban the sale of cigarettes to adults. 
• The bills would change the language of the current cigarette health warnings, substantially enlarge their size and authorize FDA to require new warnings in the future.  The bills would not, however, change the Supreme Court’s rulings regarding the product liability implications of compliance with warning requirements.
• The bills would authorize FDA, as well as states and localities, to regulate the time, place and manner of cigarette advertising and promotion, consistent with the First Amendment’s protection of commercial free speech to adults.
• The bills provide that FDA’s product standards would be consistent on a nationwide basis. 
• The bills would give FDA the authority to combat the existence of counterfeit, contraband and other illicit tobacco products.
• The bills contain a number of other provisions that would benefit the public health and provide important oversight for all tobacco manufacturers.  For example, FDA would be authorized to:
  • conduct educational efforts regarding the dangers of tobacco use,
  • take new steps to curb underage tobacco use,
  • strictly regulate new tobacco products that may reduce the risk of disease or exposure to harmful compounds in cigarette smoke, and
  • ensure that tobacco products are not adulterated.

Altria Group is the parent company of Kraft Foods, the world’s second largest food company, Philip Morris International, the world’s leading international cigarette business, and Philip Morris USA, the leading cigarette manufacturer in the United States.  For more information about Altria, its family of companies, and the recently introduced FDA legislation visit www.altria.com.

Philip Morris USA, Inc. is an operating company of Altria Group, Inc.  For more information about Philip Morris USA, its products, programs and positions on tobacco-related issues, please visit www.philipmorrisusa.com.

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