FDA Tobacco Legislation to be Considered on the House Floor

HR 1108, legislation that would provide broad regulatory authority to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for purposes of regulating tobacco products, will likely be considered by the full House sometime within the next couple of weeks.  The bill has been placed on the Union Calendar which means that it will be considered on the House floor sometime soon although a specific date has not yet been determined.  HR 1108 has already been approved by the various committees of jurisdiction and consideration by the full House is the last step before the measure goes to the Senate for consideration.

HR 1108 gives unprecedented authority to the FDA to regulate virtually every aspect of tobacco manufacture, production, distribution, marketing and access.  The bill is broadly drafted and even the chief of the FDA has expressed his opposition to the measure indicating that the agency is ill-suited to police the already heavily regulated tobacco industry.  AWMA remains opposed to the seeming rush to adopt legislation on this issue that is extremely complicated and deserves careful, objective deliberation – not just political posturing. 

AWMA urges our members to contact their House legislators to let them know of our concerns with this legislation.  Please visit our Website at and simply click on the “government affairs” button to go directly to a pre-written letter on this issue that you may send to your Representative.  Make your voice heard on this important issue affecting your business – take a minute right now to contact your legislator!  Thank you!