The U.S. House of Representatives on cleared legislation on Wednesday to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration broad authority to regulate cigarettes and other forms of tobacco.
The White House cited several “serious concerns” about the bill and said advisers would recommend a presidential veto.
Public health groups and many Democrats in support of the effort said the measure would help curtail youth smoking, prevent heart disease and reduce rising health-care costs.
“With this legislation, we will place sharp and sorely needed limits on access to tobacco products and on tobacco advertising and marketing,” said Rep. John Dingell, a Michigan Democrat who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
The legislation would “put an enormous burden on the FDA” that could detract from other public health responsibilities, according to an official Whitehouse statement.
The White House said requiring the FDA to oversee tobacco products also “could be perceived by the public as an endorsement that these products are safe, resulting in more people smoking.”
The bill would authorize the FDA to police cigarette labeling and recall tobacco products seen as unreasonably harmful””it cleared the House in a 326-102 vote.
Additionally, the FDA would have to approve all new cigarettes and other tobacco products, and set standards for so-called reduced-risk products. The agency would not be empowered to ban cigarettes or require nicotine levels of zero.
To fund the program, the bill would authorize millions of dollars of fees levied on the industry starting in fiscal 2009.
Philip Morris, the nation’s largest cigarette maker, has been the measure’s most vocal proponent from industry. The legislation has won support from a host of smaller tobacco companies and retailers.
Some tobacco companies have opposed FDA regulation, saying it could spur industry consolidation because bigger companies would be best able to comply with it.
A statement was issued b the Lorillard Tobacco Company, a unit of Lorillard Inc, saying it was “disappointed” with the House vote.
Lorillard — which makes Newport, Kent and other brands — supports reasonable federal regulation of the tobacco industry, but believes “the FDA is already overburdened and is the wrong agency to carry out this enormous task,” it said.
Spokeswoman Melissa Wagoner said Sen. Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat who has written a companion version of the bill, is hopeful the Senate will consider the legislation in the fall.
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