Today President Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, giving the FDA increased regulatory responsibility over the way tobacco is manufactured, labeled, and sold in the US. This was truly a historic moment and a meaningful first step to control the devastation caused by smoking in this country.

While many tobacco control advocates wanted stronger regulatory oversight by the FDA, the vast majority see this piece of legislation as a critically important first step to improve public health. Here are a few of the new regulatory actions enabled by this act:

• Mandates larger and more graphic warnings on cigarette package.  These warning labels will comprise at least 50% of the front and back of the cigarette package, and will contain one of nine messages such as: Cigarettes cause strokes and heart disease; Cigarettes cause fatal lung disease; Cigarettes can kill you; etc.  These have been very effective in other countries and the US will be one of the last developed countries to add this regulatory feature.

• Requires the tobacco industry to disclose all ingredients in cigarettes and other tobacco products. Up until this legislation the tobacco industry has not had to disclose to the public all ingredients, natural or added ingredients.  I suspect we will see the tobacco industry dance around this issue and the FDA will have to be vigilant in their oversight.

• Limits how tobacco products can be marketed.  Paid advertising will need to contain the same explicit warnings as will be required on cigarette packages.  Outdoor advertisements will have to be at least 1,000 feet from schools.  While this is a step in the right direction, many, including myself, are strong advocates for zero outdoor advertising, including advertising at points of sale.  Maybe next time….

• Bans the terms “light” and “low tar.”  The tobacco industry has long promoted some cigarettes as being light (i.e., low in nicotine) or low tar.  We have known for years that this was a scam and finally a stop will be put to the practice.

• Allows the FDA to reduce nicotine levels in cigarettes.  The bill contains this reference: “In August 2006 a United States district court judge found that the major United States cigarette companies have designed their cigarettes to precisely control nicotine delivery levels and provide doses of nicotine sufficient to create and sustain addiction while also concealing much of their nicotine related research.”  While this act will allow the FDA to reduce nicotine levels it will not allow them to elimine nicotine entirely from cigarettes sold in the US.

• Ban the production of flavored cigarettes (other than menthol).  Within 3 months of the act being signed into the law the tobacco industry will not be able to add herb or spice flavoring other than menthol to the actual tobacco, paper, or filter.  These flavorings have long been a way to attract young teens to experiment with cigarettes.

Most everyone who experiences the death and disease caused by smoking is delighted to see this act signed into law.  It will be up to the FDA to assure that the effort is properly resourced and enforced.