Snap Fact #142

Under the support and guidance of President Obama, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act was passed by Congresse and signed into law by the President on June 22, 2009. This act gave the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) more authority to regulate the tobacco industry. 

Specifically, the legislation imposes new labels and warnings on each tobacco pack as well as in product advertisements. The intention was to raise awareness of the harm of tobacco on all users, especially minors and youths. To this end the act also forbade flavored cigarettes that were sold to attract and entice children to pick up the habit as they grew older.

The Act also requires tobacco firms to obtain FDA’s approval before producing any new tobacco products. Besides, the legislation also placed additional limits on tobacco company advertising, especially their marketing aimed at impressionable youngsters.

In a 2010 report, the American Lung Association gave the Federal Government high marks for their fight against the dangers of tobacco. At the same time they wrote scathingly of the lack of progress and setbacks in the states. You can read the entire report by clicking the bottom link.

At this time a battle is being fought in the courts with mixed reaction. The tobacco company's lawyers are fighting the very graphic pictures that the government wants displayed as a waring to smokers on their cigarette packaging.