The U.S. House recently passed legislation that would give the federal government control over the tobacco industry for the first time. Since there is no doubt that smoking is hazardous to your health, this sounds like a good idea – right? Hold on.
The legislation would give the FDA the authority to regulate cigarettes and other tobacco products. Say what? An agency that is already underfunded and understaffed is getting more responsibility?
In theory, regulating the tobacco industry sounds like a good idea. The agency would be able to regulate the contents of tobacco products, make their ingredients public, prohibit flavoring, require much larger warning labels and strictly control or prohibit marketing campaigns, especially those geared toward children.
However, I’m not so sure the FDA is ready to take on new responsibilities. The underfunded structure and oversight ability of the current FDA needs drastic change. There have been too many defective drugs and medical devices, tainted food and dangerous toys allowed to enter the marketplace.
After all of the tainted pistachio, peanut butter, lettuce and pepper scares, some in Congress think a separate food agency is necessary. If the FDA is given additional oversight over tobacco, their workload will only increase. Congress needs to adequately fund and staff the FDA before dolling out new responsibilities.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2011
