FDA advises parents on smokeless tobacco risks

Washington鈥擜s a ban on most flavored cigarettes takes effect 鈥攖he first tobacco regulation under the ADA-backed Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act鈥攖he U.S. Food and Drug Administration advised parents of smokeless tobacco risks as well.

“Tobacco products that you don鈥檛 smoke, like snuff and chewing tobacco, have also been shown to cause gum disease and cancers of the mouth,” said an FDA parental advisory issued as the agency announced a ban on candy- and fruit-flavored cigarettes for immediate effect Sept. 22, 2009.

The Association, which supported the tobacco control law (June 22 ADA News Today, FDA granted authority to regulate tobacco products), will offer comments, at FDA’s invitation, on approaches and actions the agency should consider in implementing the law. The Association will also recommend nominees for FDA’s newly established Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee.

American Dental Association tobacco policy and resources are posted at www.ada.org. FDA’s parental advisory is posted at http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/
FlavoredTobacco/ucm183196.htm.