On July 30th a bill cleared the U.S. House of Representatives in a 326-102 vote. It will authorize the FDA to police cigarette labeling and recall tobacco products seen as unreasonably harmful.
The FDA also would have to approve all new cigarettes and other tobacco products, and set standards for so-called reduced-risk products. The agency would not be empowered to ban cigarettes or require nicotine levels of zero.
The bill would authorize millions of dollars of fees levied on the industry starting in fiscal 2009 to fund the program.
Unfortunately The White House is likely to veto the bill.