FDA Regulation of Tobacco Products

For decades, the tobacco companies have marketed their deadly products to our children, deceived consumers about the harm their products cause and failed to take any meaningful action to make their products less harmful or less addictive. On June 22, 2009, President Obama signed into law the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, H.R. 1256, to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the authority to effectively regulate the manufacturing, marketing, labeling, distribution, and sale of tobacco products and finally end the special protections enjoyed by the tobacco industry and instead, protect our children and the nation’s health.

The following resources provide additional information on APHA's advocacy efforts to improve tobacco control.

Fact Sheet: FDA Regulation of Tobacco Products

Related APHA policies:

• Regulation of Tobacco Products by the Food and Drug Administration (#9412)
• National Tobacco Control Legislation (#9808)
• Discouraging Smoking in Feature Films to Avoid Influencing Youth to Smoke (#20082)

APHA Letters and News:

• Press Release: Tobacco Legislation a Monumental Achievement, Says APHA (June 12, 2009)
• Press Release: APHA Commends Senate Passage of Tobacco Legislation (June 11, 2009)
• APHA letter opposing nongermane and weakening amendments to S. 982, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (June 3, 2009)
• APHA letter in support of S. 982, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (May 13, 2009)
• Coalition letter opposing S. 579, the Federal Tobacco Act (April 29, 2009) 
• APHA letter urging the Senate to consider the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (April 23, 2009)
• APHA letter in support of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009 (February 27, 2009)