FDA May Get Power To Regulate Cigarettes

FDA May Get Power To Regulate Cigarettes in Politics and Legislation

When it comes to the fight for healthy living and improved health care, cigarettes are one of the villains.

There’s not much argument that inhaling hundred-plus degree smoke laced with ammonia, tar, carbon monoxide, and other poisons is bad for your health.

And we’ve seen the positive effects of smoking bans in public places, so it makes sense to have the federal government regulate cigarettes, right?

Not necessarily, says the White House.

The Bush Administration and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt are opposed to a new bill that will give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate tobacco.

The measure would result in the banning of most flavored cigarettes and clove cigarettes and allow the FDA to regulate the way cigarettes are produced.

But the White House argues if the bill is passed, people may believe cigarettes are healthier if they’re approved by the FDA.

“Adding tobacco to FDA’s regulatory responsibilities could also leave the public with the misperception that tobacco products are safe, or at least safer, with the FDA regulating them,” wrote Leavitt in a letter, reported the Associated Press.

All signs point to a veto.

The problem for the White House is that there’s broad bi-partisan support for the bill. The U.S. House of Representatives could vote on it as soon as the end of this month, reported The New York Times.

So far, there’s veto-proof support in the House and the U.S. Senate is roughly three votes short of a veto-proof margin.

We’ll keep you posted.

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