Should the FDA have oversight of tobacco?

by Brian White (Subscribe to Brian White's posts)
Oct 6th 2007 2:13PM

The Food and Drug Administration has regulatory approval over food and drugs (over the counter and prescription) in the U.S. -- so why not tobacco? Maybe it doesn't want it.

This past week, the chief of the FDA (who has a dubious past) stated that he proposed a bill giving oversight authority to the FDA when it came to tobacco regulation.

Eschenbach's reason: regulating tobacco could undermine the FDA's role in protecting public health. I'm not so sure the FDA is doing the best job at that anyway. The FDA does not want to be in charge of products that, when used as intended, 'produce disease rather than promote health,' according to the FDA leader.

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Noel 11-05-2007 @ 5:42PM

I am so tired of regulations based on SOME people's opinion or desires. I hate most the perfume/aftershave/cologne that people wear is the FDA going to regulate that next. I am a polite smoker and consideration is shown when I do light up. But, the rude remarks expelled when a non-smoker comes into my private territory is ammunition for me. There is an effort to stop smoking in your own car. When will folks smarten up and get the true facts on second-hand smoke. I don't think C.Reeves or his wife were ever smokers or permitted anyone near the premises who did, and they died of what???? Please, your genes are what they are and just breathing the fumes of buses is more hazardous then a group of smokers. I have to laugh when I see runners sucking in the city emissions as they do their jaunts, and then complain about smokers outside of buildings. This is all getting too out of hand~