William Atkins
Thursday, 05 March 2009 21:30
Science -
Health
Page 2 of 3
U.S. representative Henry Waxman (Democrat from California), who is the chairperson of the Energy and Commerce Committee that enacted the bill, stated,
"This legislation will give FDA the authority to prevent the dangerous and all-too prevalent marketing and sales of tobacco to kids.”
According to the CNNMoney.com article
UPDATE:House Panel Votes To Give FDA Power To Oversee Tobacco,
“Several Republican members of the Energy and Commerce Committee voted against the bill, saying the bill would give people the perception that FDA approves the use of tobacco products."
And,
"Critics also said the FDA's handling of recent drug scandals and food outbreaks involving the bacteria salmonella show the agency doesn't have the resources and can't handle the responsibility of overseeing another area of the public's health.”
U.S. representative Joe Barton (Republican from Texas), a member of the Committee, stated,
"The FDA is the wrong agency at the wrong time to be given this responsibility.”
Barton added, “Democratic leaders acknowledged the FDA's lack of resources and noted that the tobacco industry would be funding the regulation via user fees, in which the government charges the industry to review applications for tobacco products. Tobacco companies would have to pay those fees quarterly based on their market share.”
Health advocacy groups have supported the bill in its various forms over the years. Tobacco companies have not supported the bill.
Page three concludes.
