FDA could soon regulate tobacco in U.S.

William Atkins
Thursday, 05 March 2009 20:30

Science - Health

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a bill to give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the power to regulate the tobacco industry. Health groups support the bill, while tobacco companies don't. The bill now goes to Congress for a vote.


Fifty-two members of the House Energy and Co mmerce Committee voted on the bill.

Thirty-nine voted “for” the bill, while thirteen voted “against” it. Democratic members overwhelmingly supported it, while Republican members did not support the bill.

It now goes to the Senate and the House for approval.

The bill allows the FDA to look into the practices and activities used by the tobacco industry such as growth, preparation, shipment, advertisement, and distribution.

The FDA will be involved in the various products manufactured by tobacco companies such as R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and Philip Morris Companies (parent company: Altria Group), and distributed by such companies as the AMCOM Distributing Company (which distributes consumer products including cigarettes) and Atlantic Dominion Distributors (which does the same).

AMCON states on its website that it, “… is primarily engaged in the wholesale distribution of consumer products including cigarettes and tobacco products, candy and other confectionery, beverages, food service, groceries, paper products, automotive and health and beauty care products.”

Atlantic Dominion states, “The company is a full service supplier of tobacco, grocery, confections, food service, beverage, snacks, health and beauty care, general merchandise and store supplies.”

Page two provides pro-bill quotes from Henry Waxman and con-bill quotes from Joe Barton, both members of the Committee enacting the bill.