Statement by American Cancer Society CEO John R. Seffrin On The Supreme Court Decision on FDA Regulation of Tobacco Products

American Cancer Society
Sunday, 21 May 2000

John R. Seffrin, Ph.D., chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society, the nation's leading voluntary health organization, issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on FDA regulation of tobacco products:

"While we are disappointed with today's outcome, the Supreme Court's decision underscores the fact and the urgent need for Congress to pass meaningful and comprehensive FDA authority over tobacco products.

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor noted, in the majority decision, that tobacco use among children 'poses perhaps the single most significant threat to the public health in the United States.' Between now and the end of this year's congressional session, almost 600,000 children will try tobacco products for the first time. Of those, nearly 200,000 will become addicted to nicotine, and more than 90,000 people will die from tobacco-related cancers.

The Supreme Court has made its decision, the semi-finals are over and it's now championship time. Congress is presented with an excellent opportunity to protect the public health. Our federal policymakers should get off the bench, move the ball forward, and pass meaningful FDA oversight over tobacco.

We must also take great care to ensure that Congress and the American public aren't fooled by any half measures the tobacco industry might propose. If tobacco companies like Philip Morris are genuinely interested in meaningful oversight, their actions should match their rhetoric and they will not oppose FDA regulation as outlined in the bipartisan provisions of the 1998 Senate tobacco bill."

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service.

For more information, or to contact American Cancer Society, see their website at: www.cancer.org