Tobacco Regulation Bill Advances In Senate Test Vote
June 02 2009 - 12:13PM
Dow Jones News
The U.S. Senate took a step forward Tuesday toward debate of a
bill that would give the Food and Drug Administration authority to
regulate tobacco, as senators showed strong support for the measure
in a procedural vote.
The Senate voted 84-11 to limit debate on whether to consider
the tobacco bill. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., an outspoken opponent
of the bill, is expected to pull out the stops by forcing numerous
procedural votes on the bill.
The bill, introduced by Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., would give
the FDA limited authority to monitor smoking products. It would
impose strict controls on advertising that restrict ads to black
and white, and stop the use of terms "mild" and "low tar." A
similar bill passed the House in April.
The Senate is unlikely to debate amendments to the bill until
later this week. Burr said Tuesday he wants to introduce an
alternative to the bill that would create a new agency within the
Health and Human Services Department to regulate tobacco.
Burr said he hopes to stretch debate into next week on the
tobacco regulation measure.
Tobacco producers have a large presence in North Carolina,
Burr's home state. Reynolds American Inc. (RAI) and Lorillard Inc.
(LO), two leading tobacco companies, are based in North
Carolina.
Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., is also opposed to the tobacco
regulation legislation in the Senate.
But Altria Group, Inc. (MO), the parent company of tobacco
producer Philip Morris USA, announced its support in March for the
House bill allowing FDA regulation of tobacco. That company is
based in Richmond, Va.
"We've supported the idea of federal regulation of tobacco
products for many years now," said William Phelps, an Altria
spokesman.
Phelps said the company still has reservations about the Senate
bill, because it would force tobacco companies to put larger health
warnings on packs of cigarettes. The House bill gives the FDA power
to modify warning labels, but after a review and public comment
period.
"We think that that approach gives the FDA the ability to decide
the best way, based on scientifically driven information, to
communicate health warnings to consumers," Phelps said.
Smaller tobacco producers, such as Reynolds and Lorillard, have
suggested FDA regulation of tobacco would allow Altria to exploit
its advantages and solidify its current market share.
-By Patrick Yoest, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-3554;
patrick.yoest@dowjones.com