The ACC joined a host of medical societies in sending a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell that addresses proposed changes to the grandfather date in the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA).

Speaker of the House John Boehner, several members of Congress and some tobacco companies recently suggested that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) change the "grandfather date" that enables tobacco companies to file an application showing their product is substantially equivalent to a product on the market prior to Feb. 15, 2007, instead of going through the full premarket review process for new tobacco products.

The letter to HHS urges the FDA to keep the date as was mandated by the TCA. "The premarket review provisions were enacted as a response to the tobacco industry's long history of introducing new products that are more addictive and more appealing, particularly to young people, while carrying a greater risk of disease," the letter notes. "Any change in the grandfather date would exempt a wide variety of electronic cigarettes and other deemed products from any agency review to determine whether they pose a threat to public health."

Keywords: United States Food and Drug Administration, United States Dept. of Health and Human Services, Tobacco Industry, Public Health, Tobacco

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