Tobacco Facts.

Israeli anti-smoking advocates differ in their assessments over the US bill giving the governmental agency the power to regulate tobacco products. While some state that this is a huge victory for public health, others do not share their optimism by arguing that the empowering an agency, which was responsible for food regulation and safety of products, with the authority to regulate tobacco would mislead people, who would think that after regulation cigarettes and tobacco products would not be so harmful.

In conformity with the latest legislation, the FDA would launch a filial organization named as the Tobacco Oversight Center that would be entitled to oversee cigarettes and other tobacco-containing products and sponsored by tobacco industry’s user fees, almost $250 million every year.

The Center is entitled to demand reduction of the amount of nicotine in cigarettes, ban fruit and other flavorings, restrict tobacco advertisements and require the industry to package their products in plain black and white packages.

Despite the fact that smoking is hazardous to health, the US government would not be entitled to outlaw cigarettes or ban nicotine in them since it would inevitably lead to the boom of black market sales and visits to Indian reservations and prompt lawsuits with tobacco companies.

The American tobacco industry earns up to 90 billions each year as more than 20 percent of Americans still light up despite relentless anti-smoking efforts. After the latest legislation is legally signed, Federal Public Health Department believes that the smoking rates would be dropped by 3 percent among adult smokers and by 10 among underage smokers.

Curiously, the law was supported not just by public health activist organizations but as well by the leading US cigarette maker Altria, the owner of Philip Morris. Yet, the law was heavily criticized by the remaining major US cigarette companies, who claimed that the legislation favors only Altria.

Amos Hausner, principal anti-smoking activist in Israel and the chairman of Smoking Prevention Council said that there is a lot of controversy about the US law and thus, he had a mixed reaction about it.

Hausner said that smoking is closely connected with severe health complications and after the tobacco products would be regulated, they might be perceived by people as safe, what is terribly wrong.

Health advocate mentioned that Israel does not have to follow the US steps as they have already implemented similar measure more than 15 years ago, when approved a law to entitle health minister to regulate products that are not healthy or safe for consumers. As cigarettes are enlisted in the list of products that represent health risks, the Health Department is authorized to require tobacco producers to alter the composition of their products and as well ban products if they present real danger.

Hausner also added that Altria backed the US legislation because it protects the current tobacco products while hurting the recently introduced innovations, what favors the leader in the tobacco industry.

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