Obama signs historic tobacco bill

2009-06-23 04:52:07

·Obama signed a tobacco bill into law that authorizes gov't unprecedented powers. ·Makers must disclose their products' ingredients, and allow FDA to require changes. ·The law imposes strict limits on tobacco advertising in publications.

WASHINGTON, June 22 (Xinhua) --

U.S. President Barack Obama signed a bill into law on Monday that authorizes the government unprecedented powers to control tobacco makers.

"The legislation I'm signing today represents change that's been decades in the making," Obama said at a signing ceremony at the White House.

The law gave unprecedented power to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control tobacco use among youngsters, regulate nicotine levels, bar added flavorings and require tough new warning labels.

The FDA will be also granted the power to create a new Center for Tobacco Products to oversee the science-based regulation of tobacco products in the United States.

It also imposes strict limits on tobacco advertising in publications that have a significant number of teenagers as readers, and bans the use of words like "mild" or "light" in ads that makes tobacco products seem safer.

"Despite decades of lobbying and advertising by the tobacco industry, we passed a law to help protect the next generation of Americans from growing up with a deadly habit that so many of our generation have lived with," said the president.

The bill, which is backed by many public health groups, is, however, strongly opposed by the tobacco industry.

Official statistics show that nearly 20 percent of Americans smoke, and about 440,000 people die a year in the United States due to cancer, heart disease, emphysema and other tobacco-related ailments.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

U.S. Senate approves more control over tobacco makers

2009-06-12 07:42:15

WASHINGTON, June 11 (Xinhua) --

The U.S. Senate approved a bill on Thursday to give the government more power over tobacco makers, after the House of Representatives adopted a similar measure.

By voting 79 to 17, the Senate will give the Food and Drug Administration unprecedented power to control tobacco use among youngsters, regulate nicotine levels, bar added flavorings and require tough new warning labels.

President Barack Obama hailed the passage of the bill, saying it would "make history by giving the scientists and medical experts at the FDA the power to take sensible steps that will reduce tobacco's harmful effects and prevent tobacco companies from marketing their products to children."

"At any given moment, millions are struggling with their habit or worrying about loved ones who smoke," said the president, who used to be a smoker.

"My administration is committed to protecting our children and reforming our health care system -- and moving forward with common-sense tobacco control measures is an integral part of that process. I look forward to signing this bill into law," he added.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also said that her chamber might accept the Senate's version to make it be signed into law soon.

"I believe it will be possible for us to accept their bill and send it right on to the president," she said.

Advocates of the bill earlier predicted that the changes could cut into the 400,000 deaths every year caused by smoking and reduce the 100 billion U.S. dollars in annual health care costs linked to tobacco.

Editor: Xiong Tong

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