House panel approves FDA tobacco oversight

By Susan Heavey

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration would gain new power to regulate cigarettes and other tobacco products under legislation passed by a U.S. House of Representatives panel on Wednesday.

The proposal, which passed 39 to 13 but must still win approval by the full House and Senate, would authorize the FDA to oversee the controversial, multibillion-dollar tobacco industry, including its advertisements and product designs. The FDA already oversees drugs, devices, most foods, cosmetics and animal drugs.

"Regulating tobacco is the single most important thing that we can do right now to curb the deadly toll of tobacco," said House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Rep. Henry Waxman, who introduced the bill. A similar measure by the California Democrat passed the House last year but stalled in the Senate.

Giving the federal government authority over tobacco products would help curb smoking, which can cause a number of expensive and preventable health problems such as cancer, heart disease and other lung disorders, Democrats said.

The bill calls for a separate FDA center funded by user fees from tobacco companies to monitor ingredients, inspect manufacturing facilities, and oversee marketing. It does not allow FDA oversight of tobacco farmers.

Critics have expressed concern about the FDA's ability to handle an entirely new industry given recent problems with contaminated peanuts and other foods. Last year, a widely used blood thinner was recalled over tainted ingredients from China.

"The FDA is the wrong agency at the wrong time to give this type of responsibility," said Texas Rep. Joe Barton, the committee's ranking Republican. Barton and other Republicans also said the measure could give the false impression that cigarettes are safe.

Industry reaction has been mixed, with the nation's largest cigarette maker, Altria Group Inc's Philip Morris unit, voicing support. Some smaller companies also back it, but others such as Reynolds American Inc's R.J. Reynolds Tobacco unit say it would burden manufacturers, who would have to register with the FDA and keep various records.