APHA
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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
APHA 2005
 
4345.0: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 8:30 PM

Abstract #98786

Is Philip Morris' support of FDA regulation good for public health?

Michael S. Givel, PhD, Department of Political Science, The University of Oklahoma, 455 West Lindsey, Room 217, Norman, OK 73019, 405-325-8878, mgivel@ou.edu

In 2004, identical bills were introduced in the United States Senate and House supported by major health groups and Philip Morris that granted new authority for the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate tobacco products for health and safety purposes. Public health proponents argued the bills would “protect kids and save lives” by granting FDA authority to restrict tobacco advertising and promotion, require disclosure about tobacco health dangers, change tobacco products to make them less harmful, prohibit unproven health claims about "reduced risk" products, and require stronger health warnings on tobacco products. Given these purported advantages, why did Philip Morris support these bills? A policy comparison of all sections of the legislation and core principles by Philip Morris on FDA regulation of tobacco discovered in previously secret tobacco documents (that was collaborated by 513 other tobacco documents) indicates almost totally congruency between the legislation and Philip Morris' core principles. With the passage of this legislation, tobacco will remain an economically viable product for a long time rather than being greatly restricted as if it was regulated as a drug or drug delivery device as was proposed in 1996 FDA regulations. Under the new stable FDA regulatory framework, while there will be some new federal regulatory controls and purportedly some reduction in tobacco use, millions of other American tobacco users (adults and kids) will continue to suffer from tobacco related illnesses and deaths.

Learning Objectives: This presentation will provide participants with a historical overview from 1996 to the present of proposals and actions by the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products. This presentation will also discuss why Philip Morris and major health groups supported the bi-partisan Dewine-Kennedy bill introduced in the Senate in 2004 and whether this bill was good for public health. Outcomes of actions participants will demonstrate at the end of the presentation