FDA Legislation

Tobacco use kills more than 400,000 Americans and costs the nation $96 billion in health care bills each year. Every day, another 1,200 lives are lost and more than 1,000 kids become new regular smokers.

Yet, until now, tobacco products have escaped the FDA's common-sense regulations that apply to other consumer products, such as food, drugs and even lipstick. The new law will:

• Crack down on tobacco marketing and sales to kids.


• Ban candy and fruit-flavored cigarettes.


• Require larger, more effective health warnings on tobacco products.


• Require tobacco companies to disclose the contents of tobacco products, as well as changes in products and research about their health effects.


• Ban terms such as "light" and "low-tar" that mislead consumers into believing that certain cigarettes are safer.


• Strictly regulate all health-related claims about tobacco products to ensure they are scientifically proven and do not discourage current tobacco users from quitting or encourage new users to start.


• Empower the FDA authority to require changes in tobacco products, such as the removal or reduction of harmful ingredients.