^®: CRE Regulatory Action of the Week

FDA Tobacco Meeting
CRE identified three key issues which the FDA's Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) should address: (1) how the TSPCA should be governed; (2) whether menthol cigarettes should be regulated differently than other cigarettes; and (3) the need for an Interactive Public Docket (IPD).

The most important governance issue is informing the Committee that their work must adhere to federal Data Quality standards if it is to be used by the FDA.

With respect to menthol, the Committee should thoroughly consider the negative public health impacts if menthol cigarettes were to be banned. A major anti-tobacco NGO has already warned that banning menthol cigarettes could harm public health.

Creation of an IPD would be the most effective mechanism for ensuring transparency in the TPSAC's operations while allowing for effective participation in the process by all stakeholders. IPDs have already proven effective at allowing public participation in complex, federal scientific debates, such as on marine spacial planning.