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House votes to grant FDA authority over tobacco
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33 minutes ago
By Lisa Richwine
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A measure giving the Food and Drug Administration power to regulate the manufacturing and marketing of cigarettes cleared the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday.
The legislation, passed by a 298-112 vote, must win the Senate's approval before going to President Barack Obama for his signature. The White House supports the effort.
The bill would give the FDA a range of authorities over the multibillion-dollar tobacco industry. It could restrict advertising to children, require larger package warnings and force companies to lower -- but not eliminate -- nicotine content.
Industry reaction has been mixed.
The nation's largest cigarette maker, Altria Group Inc's Philip Morris unit, supports the bill. Some smaller companies also back it, but Reynolds American Inc's R.J. Reynolds Tobacco unit and others say it would burden manufacturers by making them register with the FDA and keep various records.
Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy, chair of the Senate health committee, said in a statement he was confident the Senate would pass the measure quickly and send it to President Obama to sign.
The White House issued a statement on Wednesday saying the Obama administration strongly supported the measure. Obama has admitted his own struggles to quit smoking.
The House, in a separate 284-142 vote, defeated an alternative offered by Republican Rep. Steve Buyer to establish a new tobacco regulation center outside the FDA but within the Department of Health and Human Services.
Module body
33 minutes ago
By Lisa Richwine
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A measure giving the Food and Drug Administration power to regulate the manufacturing and marketing of cigarettes cleared the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday.
The legislation, passed by a 298-112 vote, must win the Senate's approval before going to President Barack Obama for his signature. The White House supports the effort.
The bill would give the FDA a range of authorities over the multibillion-dollar tobacco industry. It could restrict advertising to children, require larger package warnings and force companies to lower -- but not eliminate -- nicotine content.
Industry reaction has been mixed.
The nation's largest cigarette maker, Altria Group Inc's Philip Morris unit, supports the bill. Some smaller companies also back it, but Reynolds American Inc's R.J. Reynolds Tobacco unit and others say it would burden manufacturers by making them register with the FDA and keep various records.
Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy, chair of the Senate health committee, said in a statement he was confident the Senate would pass the measure quickly and send it to President Obama to sign.
The White House issued a statement on Wednesday saying the Obama administration strongly supported the measure. Obama has admitted his own struggles to quit smoking.
The House, in a separate 284-142 vote, defeated an alternative offered by Republican Rep. Steve Buyer to establish a new tobacco regulation center outside the FDA but within the Department of Health and Human Services.