Federal Government Receives Failing Grades on Tobacco Control in Annual American Lung Associat...(licies in smokefree air cigarette tax to...),Health

Date:1/9/2008

licies in smokefree air, cigarette tax, tobacco prevention spending, and youth access to tobacco products. The report grades federal tobacco control efforts on cigarette tax, giving the FDA authority over manufactured tobacco products, cessation and ratification of the international tobacco control treaty.

Grades for federal issues -- FDA regulation of tobacco products, cigarette tax, cessation policies, and the international tobacco control treaty -- still score only Ds and Fs. Congress, however, is poised to pass the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act to give the Food and Drug Administration oversight over tobacco products, legislation that will curb the marketing of cigarettes to children and teens.

"Now is the time for leaders at the federal, state and local levels to summon the political will to do what's right and finally shut the door on this country's tobacco epidemic," said Ms. Toomey. "There's no excuse for America not to make major progress on this vital issue, because we know what changes need to be made to protect health and save lives. Half-hearted responses and weak policies from all levels of government will not put an end to the tragedy of tobacco addiction, disease and death in America." In the United States, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the world's first tobacco control treaty, again saw no action in 2007. As of December 2007, 151 nations, not including the U.S., have ratified the treaty, yet the document has languished since 2004 in "interagency review."

Twenty-one states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have answered the American Lung Association's Smokefree Air 2010 Challenge by passing comprehensive smokefree air laws that protect almost all workers from exposure to secondhand smoke. However, 18 states continue to receive an F in this category, leaving millions of Americans exposed to potentially lethal secondhand smoke in restaurants, workplaces, and other public places. The S
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SOURCE American Lung Association Copyright©2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

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