April 25, 1997
A ruling today by U.S. District Court in Greensboro, N.C., upholds the federal Food and Drug Administration¢s authority to regulate nicotine as a drug.
This statement is attributable to:
Patrick B. Harr, M.D., Maryville, MO
President, American Academy of Family Physicians
RULING FOR FDA RULES ADVANCES ANTI-TOBACCO EFFORTS
*Our nation won another victory in the battle to break the deadly grip of addiction and disease caused by tobacco use. As we had hoped, the federal court in North Carolina agreed that the Food and Drug Administration does have the authority to regulate tobacco as a drug.
*This landmark decision will end the longtime and absurd exclusion of nicotine from the regulatory process that applies to all other drugs produced and marketed in this nation. Public safety was the big winner in today¢s decision.
*As longtime advocates for the better health and safety of the American public, the American Academy of Family Physicians wholeheartedly supports FDA regulation of products that contain nicotine.
*We¢re disappointed that the judge did not also uphold the proposed rules restricting tobacco companies¢ marketing and advertising efforts to turn our children into addicts of their deadly products.
*The American Academy of Family Physicians is combating tobacco use on many fronts, and among all age groups. We¢ve endorsed "TarWars," a pro-health, anti-tobacco program aimed at 5th graders that reaches some 200,000 kids a year. We also support a federal ban on selling tobacco products to individuals under age 18 and requirements for photo identification of tobacco purchasers who are under age 27.*
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For more information, please contact:
Bob Redling, Public Relations; (800) 274-2237, ext. 4218; [email protected]
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