Proposed Bill Aims to Give FDA Control over Cigarette Ingredients

By Alison Gonzalez

Published on July 17, 2007

The legislation – nicknamed the “safer cigarette” bill and supported by the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, and Philip Morris USA – would allow the FDA to oversee the amounts of nicotine, tar, and other harmful materials that are put in cigarettes and other tobacco products. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, many of which are known to cause lung cancer and other medical conditions.

The proposed law would also create national standards for tobacco products, forcing manufacturers to disclose all their ingredients and restrict how their products are made.

But critics say that even though the bill would give the FDA regulating power over tobacco products, cigarettes would still be dangerous. Boston University health professor Dr. Michael Siegel said the bill might actually trick people into thinking smoking is safe, making it more appealing to teenagers.

FDA commissioner Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach has indicated in the past that the FDA is not interested in the responsibility of regulating cigarette ingredients.

Supporters of the bill say the measure has a good chance at becoming law. If passed by the Senate committee, the bill will hit the Senate floor by next week.

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