Tobacco regulation may promote smoking, FDA commissioner says

WASHINGTON (MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE) - The head of the federal Food and Drug Administration did not show up for a House hearing yesterday on a bill for broad U.S. regulation of tobacco, but he still made waves.

Andrew C. von Eschenbach, the FDA commissioner, submitted testimony that sharply criticized portions of the bill to give his agency authority over tobacco manufacturing, marketing and sales.

Von Eschenbach told the House subcommittee on health that the bill might not provide enough money, could be hard for the agency to implement, and could undermine the agency’s mission.

“We are concerned that the public will believe that products ‘approved’ by the agency are safe and that this will actually encourage individuals to smoke more rather than less,” von Eschenbach said.