Senator Feinstein Co-sponsors Legislation to
Empower FDA to Regulate Tobacco Products
June 18, 2002

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has joined Senators Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Senator Mike DeWine (R-Ohio and cosponsored their legislation to empower the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate tobacco products.

"Over the past two decades, we have learned that tobacco companies have manipulated the level of nicotine in cigarettes to increase the number of people addicted to their product. We also know that 90 percent of smokers begin before age 18," Senator Feinstein said.

"It is long past time to reduce the addictive nature of cigarettes and curtail the marketing of these products to young people. I believe giving the FDA the power to regulate the content, design, sale, and marketing of tobacco products will help do that."

"I further believe that cancer cannot be conquered without addressing smoking and the use of tobacco products. Smoking causes one-third of all cancers and is the cause of 165,000 deaths annually. The cancer community and I are united in the belief that the single most important way to prevent cancer is to place tobacco products under the regulatory control of the FDA."

Specifically, the legislation will:

  • Permit the FDA to prevent tobacco companies from targeting advertising to young children;
  • End cigarette vending machine sales in order to reduce the ability of minors to purchase cigarettes;
  • Call for serious penalties for those caught selling tobacco to minors;
  • Require stronger warnings about the effects of tobacco on all tobacco products and in all print advertisements;
  • Give the FDA the authority to reduce or remove hazardous ingredients from cigarettes;
  • Prohibit the tobacco industry from misrepresenting the health consequences of using tobacco products;
  • Require the FDA verify all claims made by tobacco companies that their products pose a reduced risk to health.

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