How You Can Help Hold Big Tobacco Accountable
Nearly 20 years ago, a U.S. Federal District judge found that the major cigarette manufacturers violated civil racketeering laws for deliberately defrauding the public.
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Statement from Donald Distasio on Vote to Regulate Tobacco
June 11, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 11, 2009
BIG TOBACCO TACTICS THAT PREYED ON KIDS ARE
BANNED BY HISTORIC BILL
Statement from Donald Distasio, CEO, American Cancer Society of NY & NJ,
regarding U.S. Senate passage of the Family Smoking Prevention Tobacco Control Act.
“This historic legislation thwarts decades of deceptive tactics used by Big Tobacco to lure children into a lifetime of smoking and illness and the days of free cigarette giveaways, sporting event sponsorships, and flashy color advertising that kids find attractive will be a distant memory.
By giving the FDA the power to regulate tobacco products, a watchful eye can monitor what goes into cigarettes; require disclosure of ingredients and bigger, stronger health warnings; and regulate the tobacco industry’s marketing strategies. Tobacco manufacturers finally will be held to the same standard that other companies that make ingestible products are held to. Full ingredient disclosure will shed a bright light on the deadly cocktail of noxious poisons that make up the average cigarette. Fully informed consumers will be able to make educated choices, rather than be misled by false claims of less deadly, so-called reduced harm tobacco products.
The U.S. House and Senate have acted to protect our kids. We urge President Obama to sign this legislation immediately so the FDA can get to work on developing and implementing lifesaving regulations as soon as possible.”
The Family Smoking Prevention Tobacco Control Act:
- Bans marketing and sales to kids;
- Requires disclosure of ingredients to the FDA and larger, more specific health warnings;
- Empowers the FDA to require tobacco companies to reduce or eliminate harmful ingredients in their products;
- Bans candy- and fruit-flavored cigarettes and eliminates false health claims; and
- Fully funds FDA regulation through a user fee imposed on tobacco manufacturers.
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About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org
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