[SheLion]

If the FDA regulated tobacco, they would have to ban it, because they could not say that tobacco was safe.

I can't believe the farmers are all for this. This regulation could greatly reduce their production of tobacco.

An earlier link:

U.S. Senators offer bill regulating tobacco by FDA

Lorillard Tobacco Company Issues Statement Regarding Bill Proposing FDA Regulation of Tobacco Products

"Lorillard Tobacco Company is prepared to fully support reasonable federal regulation of the tobacco industry. But Senator Kennedy's bill to allow the FDA to regulate cigarettes is neither reasonable nor intended to advance these efforts.

"In fact, Lorillard believes that this kind of regulation will unfairly favor Philip Morris, the largest tobacco manufacturer, who will be better equipped to deal with the draconian rules that would extend from the farm to the retail store. In this sense, it would constitute the 'Marlboro Monopoly Act' and virtually eliminate any communication and marketing of our products to adult consumers. We interpret this proposed legislation as a thinly-veiled attempt to grant authority to an agency that by the terms of its existing mandate, must find cigarettes are not and can never be made safe and effective, and therefore would have no choice but to eventually ban the product.

"The stated focus of Senator Kennedy's bill is to serve as a way to combat youth smoking, an issue we at Lorillard take very seriously. We are encouraged by recent reports that show teen smoking rates have declined by more than 20 percent in just the past several years. And while we believe that there is still much more that must be done, Lorillard remains 100 percent committed to the nationwide effort to reduce youth smoking. We do not believe the kind of pervasive federal regulation proposed today would have any greater effect on this issue than the efforts that are already successfully underway.

"At Lorillard, we believe that reasonable regulation can bring about less confrontation and litigation, while enhancing our combined efforts to resolve the many issues facing the tobacco industry."

Philip Morris U.S.A. Reiterates Support for Federal Legislation To Establish Food and Drug Administration Regulation of Tobacco Products

"Philip Morris U.S.A. is glad that Senator Kennedy's bill sensibly creates a new chapter of the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act that responds to the unique regulatory challenges posed by tobacco products," said Michael Pfeil, Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs, Philip Morris U.S.A. "As such, we believe that its introduction is a positive step that should help move the process forward towards ultimate passage of an FDA tobacco bill."

[SheLion]

[billbears]

So with Burr saying that a buyout bill won't clear the House with FDA regulation and Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., saying that a buyout won't clear the Senate without FDA oversight, what happens in the end?

Let's see if we can pick out the conservative and pick out the political hack that was foisted upon the good people of the state of North Carolina as 'conservative'...

[hattend]

Even if it does win power to regulate tobacco products, the FDA could not limit tobacco companies' constitutional rights to advertise their products, Parrish said.

Mr Parrish, why couldn't the FDA limit ads? The government already limits the tobacco companies' Constitutional rights to advertise. I haven't seen any TV ads for tobacco products in probably 30 years.

[Reelect President Dubya]

I am sure the DEA is chomping at the bit to kick in peoples' doors in the middle of the night and confiscate their property on suspicion of Marlboro possession.

[Gabz]

As tobacco-state congressmen prepare to push a buyout of tobacco quotas that does not include regulation of cigarettes by the Food and Drug Administration, the nation's largest tobacco company says that a buyout must be combined with FDA regulation to succeed.

FDA regulation will be a death knell to the tobacco industry........and that is exactly what Philip Morris wants. FDA regulation will kill any and all research into the low-smoke and non-smoke cigarettes being worked upon by other companies, something PM is not publicly doing. FDA regulation will kill any and all reasearch into a possible "safer" cigarette.

As bad as we all know the MSA was to smokers and new business........FDA regulation will make the MSA look like child's play.

Philip Morris supports an assessment on cigarette-makers to pay for a buyout.

Of course they are - for 2 reasons:

1. They will immediately pass it on to their customers, just like with the MSA;

2. The newer companies that are undercutting PM in sales will be forced to do the same thing.