Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee set in motion

ROCKVILLE, Md. The Food and Drug Administration has started exercising its newfound power to regulate tobacco.

The agency announced Tuesday the establishment of the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee as part of the implementation of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which President Obama signed into law in June.

The committee will provide advice, information and recommendations to FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg on health and other issues related to tobacco products. It will comprise 12 members, including nine medical, science and manufacturing technology experts and government officials who will each have a vote, and three industry representatives who will not.