The federal government is really serious about targeting cigarettes as dangerous products these days. More than ever before, and you’re invited to participate.
Why? Maybe it’s because the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that thirty percent (30%) of all cancer deaths in this country are due to tobacco. In fact, tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, responsible for 443,000 deaths each year.
Which may explain why another study has been released by the Surgeon General on how very, very bad cigarette smoking (and other tobacco products) can be – both for the user of the product as well as those subjected to secondhand smoke.
(To read and/or download the complete report, go here.)
And, if the statistical studies, scholarly reports, and regular news releases don’t get the message out, there’s always the product itself. New legislation, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Tobacco Control Act), will have future cigarette packages and advertisements showing bigger, graphic health warnings. Scary ones.
In fact, right now the Food and Drug Administration has issued a proposed rule that will create nine new textual warning statements accompanied by color graphics depicting the negative health consequences of smoking.
The FDA is also asking for your input regarding its implementation of the new tobacco regulations. You can vote on your choice of warning labels, as well as make other comments, now through Tuesday, January 11, 2011.
- Go to www.regulations.gov and insert docket number FDA-2010-N-0568 into the “search” box and follow the prompts.
- Send a fax, with your comments, to 301-827-6870.
- Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions) to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
