FDA seeks public comment on tobacco regulations

ROCKVILLE, Md. The Food and Drug Administration wants input from the public regarding its new authority to regulate tobacco products under legislation signed into law last week by President Barack Obama.

In a Federal Register notice, the agency announced that it would seek public comment about topics ranging from product contents to advertising and marketing. All public comments will be posted online.

“We’re interested in receiving input from across the country as the FDA begins to implement this important new authority intended to reduce the enormous toll of suffering and death caused by tobacco products in the United States,” FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg said. “We look forward to the public’s response.”

In addition to imposing stringent new regulations on tobacco products, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act creates a new office within the FDA, the Center for Tobacco Products, to oversee regulation of the industry.