March 1, 2010 Larry Waters

FDA Panel Takes on Menthol in March 2010!

Voting Members of FDA Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee Chosen

FDA announced this morning that they had selected the Voting Members (the ones that count) for the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) as mandated in The Tobacco Act.

These FDA-Approved individuals are the ones who will set the criteria for Modified Risk Tobacco (MRT) products; more commonly known as Reduced Harm Tobacco. This includes Swedish Snus as well as any other non-combustible tobacco products which feel they may qualify for MRT designation.

The Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) will also advise/give cover to FDA on approving MRT Applications, nicotine quantity issues, flavoring and ingredients questions on all tobacco products and quoting FDA “The committee will provide advice, information, and recommendations to FDA on a wide range of tobacco-related issues“.

Much to our amazement, the first meeting of the committee is scheduled for March 30-31, 2010 and will focus on the impact of the use of menthol in cigarettes on the public health. The meeting is open to the public and interested people may present data, information, or views, orally or in writing.

Attacking the menthol issue first means one of two things: FDA is seriously considering banning menthol to justify their other flavor bans OR it has already been decided behind closed doors that menthol will not be banned and the Obama Administration wants that settled before the 2010 mid-term elections. Considering the impact Altria/PMUSA had on the creation of The Tobacco Act, I cynically expect the latter to be the case….right in time for April Fools Day.

April Fools Day could also go the other way based on FDA’s selections for TPSAC. They are not what could be honestly called an unbiased group.

All five of the voting members have strong and long records as being not only anti-cigarette, but anti-ALL-tobacco products. The TPSAC Voting Members are the ones who really matter. The three as yet to be chosen Non-Voting Members will represent Big Tobacco, Small to Medium Sized Tobacco, and the General Public. If anyone wants to bet against me when I assure you that the Member for the General Public will be a non-tobacco user, I’ll be happy to take your money.

One thing I do strongly believe as I said earlier is that the outcome has already been pre-determined. These hearing, even more so than President Obama’s televised “bi-partisan” attempt to move health care reform forward, are simply shows to make it appear an impartial effort was made.

Here is FDA’s Official Press Release. If you feel your spine go cold, you are not without reason. The Nanny State moves ever forward in the USSA. Personal choice and responsibility slip further from the people’s grasp into the claws of the Federal Government.

FDA Announces Meeting Information and Voting Membership of the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced membership and meeting information for the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC). The Committee, required through the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Tobacco Control Act), will provide advice, information, and recommendations to FDA on a wide range of tobacco-related issues.

The first meeting of the Committee, scheduled for March 30-31, 2010, will focus on the health impacts of the use of menthol in cigarettes as it relates to the demographics of users, preferential use by persons initiating tobacco use, and the effects of menthol on addiction and cessation. In addition, consumer perceptions about menthol cigarettes, the sensory qualities of menthol cigarettes, and the effects of menthol on how cigarettes are smoked will be discussed at the Committee’s inaugural meeting.

These discussions are preliminary to the preparation of the Committee’s Report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding the impact of use of menthol in cigarettes on the public’s health, required by the Tobacco Control Act.

“FDA will be faced with many challenging tobacco-related public health, science and regulatory issues as we move forward with implementation of the Tobacco Control Act,” said Lawrence R. Deyton, M.S.P.H., M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “The breadth of knowledge amassed by this highly-qualified group will supplement and enhance the agency’s understanding of tobacco control, prevention, and health promotion issues.”

The committee is comprised of 12 members, nine voting and three non-voting. Of the nine voting members, seven are health professionals representing a wide variety of relevant disciplines. The other two voting members include a representative from state government and a representative of the general public.

Selection of the three non-voting members representing industry interests is on-going. Ultimately this will include one member from the tobacco manufacturing industry, one representing tobacco growers, and one representative from the small business manufacturing industry.

Busy Hoarding Real Snus in my Bunker,