House Appropriations Committee Grandfathers Thousands of Unregulated Tobacco Products
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 8, 2015)—
Statement of Harold P. Wimmer, National President and CEO, American Lung Association:
“The American Lung Association is deeply disappointed that a provision that grandfathers thousands of unregulated tobacco products currently on the market, including e-cigarettes, little cigars and hookah, remains in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2016.”
“This blatant gift to the tobacco industry comes at a time when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that e-cigarette use among youth has tripled in one year. One in four youth in the U.S. still use tobacco products. This provision shows that some in Congress continue to prioritize Big Tobacco over the health of our nation, particularly young people who will become the next generation of addicted smokers and tobacco users.”
“The provision attached to the Agriculture Appropriations bill, which was approved by the House Appropriations Committee today, would significantly limit FDA’s authority over these unregulated tobacco products and open the door for the tobacco industry to market candy-flavored tobacco products to kids for years to come.”
“The Tobacco Control Act was established to protect public health and to halt the ability of the tobacco companies to introduce new, addictive products without any review or oversight. This provision will take away FDA’s ability to review the health harms of thousands of brands of e-cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, cigarillos and hookah - many flavored like fruit, bubble gum and gummy bears - from basic pre-market review.”
The Lung Association strongly urges the full House of Representatives to remove this provision from the Agriculture Appropriations bill.
For media interested in speaking with an expert about e-cigarettes, tobacco use and tobacco policies, contact the American Lung Association at Media@Lung.org or 312-801-7628.
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About the American Lung Association The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to improve the air we breathe; to reduce the burden of lung disease on individuals and their families; and to eliminate tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.
