Center for Regulatory Effectiveness: Why Does FDA’s Tobacco Product Scientific Advisory Committee Refuse to Examine the Health Effects of Contraband?

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- At today's TPSAC meeting, the committee presented its outline of topics to be reviewed in its analysis of the contraband which will result if there were a ban on menthol cigarettes.

Conspicuously absent from the outline was a review of the very substantial adverse health effects sustained from smoking contraband cigarettes.

Not withstanding:

A statutory mandate to study the health effects of contraband cigarettes
Public comments urging the TPSAC to review the health affects of cigarettes, https://www.thecre.com/tpsac/?p=950

TPSAC continually refuses to address the subject.

Why?

Was it a simple oversight?

Has TPSAC made up their minds on the menthol issue and do not want to review any data which conflicts with their preconceived ideas?

Has FDA given TPSAC the word not to address the issue?

Are a number of the TPSAC committee members agreeable to examining the issue but have been shouted down by zealots?

CRE has no idea for the reasons behind the TPSAC action but recommends that they announce immediately that they are going to review the health effects of contraband.

SOURCE Center for Regulatory Effectiveness