FTC Updates 42-Year-Old Tobacco Guidance

Cigarette Companies Can No Longer Advertise "Low-Tar" Smokes Using Government Test

(AP)  The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday rescinded guidance it issued 42 years ago that has allowed tobacco companies to make claims about tar and nicotine levels based on testing by a machine.

The cigarette industry uses a test known as the Cambridge Filter Method to support any factual statements about tar and nicotine content in cigarette smoke. But the commission said the test method is flawed. It also said that the resulting marketing touting tar and nicotine levels could cause consumers to believe that lighter cigarettes were safer.

As a result, future advertising that lists tar levels for cigarettes won't be able to use terms such as "by FTC method."

"Our action today ensures that tobacco companies may not wrap their misleading tar and nicotine ratings in a cloak of government sponsorship," said Commissioner Jon Leibowitz. "Simply put, the FTC will not be a smoke screen for tobacco companies' shameful marketing practices."

The commission rescinded the guidance by a 4-0 vote.

Under the current system, cigarettes with a tar rate above 15 milligrams per cigarette are commonly referred to by the industry as "full flavor." Cigarettes with a tar rating of less than 15 milligrams are referred to as "low" or "light." Cigarettes with a tar rate below 6 are described as "ultra low" or "ultra light."

The National Cancer Institute found that changes in cigarette design reduced the amount of tar and nicotine measured by smoking machines using the Cambridge Filter Method. However, there was no evidence those changes reduced disease for smokers. The machine doesn't take into account the way smokers adjust their behavior, such as taking more or deeper puffs to maintain nicotine levels.

"The most important aspect of this decision is that it says to consumers that tobacco industry claims relating to tar and nicotine are at best flawed and most likely misleading," said Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.

The commission said it originally believed in the 1960s that giving consumers uniform, standardized information about tar and nicotine yields of cigarettes would help them make informed decisions about cigarettes. At the time, most public health officials believed that reducing the amount of tar in a cigarette could reduce a smoker's risk of lung cancer. However, that premise is no longer valid.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J. introduced legislation this year that would prohibit companies from making claims based on data derived from the FTC's testing method, but the bill did not make it to the full chamber for a vote.

"Tobacco companies can no longer rely on the government to back up a flawed testing method that tricks smokers into thinking these cigarettes deliver less tar and nicotine," Lautenberg said.

One FTC commissioner, Pamela Jones Harbor, urged Congress to approve the regulation of tobacco by the Food and Drug Administration. The bill would authorize government scientists to track, analyze and regulate the components of cigarettes.

Tobacco companies have stated clearly over the years that there is no such thing as a safe cigarette. In a statement, Philip Morris USA, the nation's largest tobacco company, said it remains committed to working with the FTC and other federal authorities to identify and adopt testing that improves on the Cambridge method.

The FTC noted that all four major domestic cigarette makers told commissioners the 1966 guidance should be retained until a replacement test method was approved.

Philip Morris warned commissioners that elimination of the guidance could lead to a new "tar derby" in which cigarette makers would use different methods of measuring the yields in their cigarettes, thereby leading to greater consumer confusion.

[slim1h2o]

Please don''''t ever give up!

Posted by Solarrays247 at 02:44 PM : Nov 28, 2008

Thanks, and you too, don''t give up. And I will try to do the same.

What I don''t understand is, If doctors are going to get in the business, why don''t they do a better job of listening to their patients?
I have heard that by 2025, or something like that, that we will have a shortage of doctors. As far as I''m concerned, the doctors that I have seen, should just quit, and stop clogging up the market with quacks.

At least we''d be able to go to a doc and be reasonably assured that they would do their frigging jobs.

Now-a-days, I rate doctors (all) with that of used car salesmen, lawyers, and door-to door Vaccume Cleaner salesman.

Well actually,, I rate the latter above doctors...

Good luck!!

[solarrays247-2009]

Posted by slim1h2o at 02:29 PM : Nov 28, 2008

slim1h2o, I am sorry that you are having health issues, and that you are having difficulty getting help. And I am so sorry that you lost your mother the same way that I did!

We all went through hell, trying to get help for my mother. We took her to a total of seven different hospitals, most of them major health centers on the east coast, trying to get help for her. We finally did find a doctor who could at least provide her with comfort!

I sense your frustration and despair, but please don''t ever give up! Inroads are being made every day in the medical field!! The trick seems to be getting to the right medical provider, and discovering the one that will treat you with care specific for YOUR needs. Without knowing anything else about you, I wish for you all the very best in life and in health. Please don''t ever give up!

[slim1h2o]

Solarrays247 at 02:16 PM : Nov 28, 2008

No you''re right,,I have no right to judge you, no more you have the right to judge me. (Whats your excuse) Remember?

I watched my mother die as well as you did, for the same as your own. Like I said, I have lung issues too, but not from smoking, but from other problems.

I too quit smoking, but took it up again, for that was not the problem. And trying to get the doctors to listen has caused me grief and despair to the point that you can not even imagine.
But that''s as far as I will speak of the problems I have encountered in this so-called health system.

Glad that you have found the answer to your problems, I''m still searching, well actually I''m all done searching, I''m just all done in general. Keep in mind that others are not as lucky as you, or as fortunate as you.
Keep up the good work on not smoking....

[solarrays247-2009]

Posted by Solarrays247 at 01:53 PM : Nov 28, 2008

So what''''s YOUR excuse for being so uncompassionate?

Hell I lost my mother as well, just like you, and on the path for the same fate. However, not from smoking, but other maladys that the dipstick docs won''''t do anything about....

You can blame the Health Care system in this country more than the tobbacco companys.

Posted by slim1h2o at 02:02 PM : Nov 28, 2008

Uncompassionate? Me? For wishing I could help prevent anyone else for suffering the hell that my courageous mother went through all those years?

You have no right to judge me! You do not know anything else about me! You do not know that I quit smoking cold turkey!! My addiction was so strong that nothing could stop me from craving that next cigarette! I tried the patch. I tried the gum! I tried just about everything! The only thing that worked for me was my hatred of the tobacco companies and anything connected with them! The only thing stronger than my craving for nicotine was my newfound resolve never to give one more cent to the companies who lied to my mother and millions of others throughout the 40''s through most of the 60''s.

And I have never felt more free! And healthy! And loving life!! If I had the gift to give this method to everyone who wished they could quit smoking...I would not hesitate! If that means that I am without compassion...then I plead quilty!

[slim1h2o]

Posted by Solarrays247 at 01:53 PM : Nov 28, 2008

So what''s YOUR excuse for being so uncompassionate?

Hell I lost my mother as well, just like you, and on the path for the same fate. However, not from smoking, but other maladys that the dipstick docs won''t do anything about....

You can blame the Health Care system in this country more than the tobbacco companys.

[solarrays247-2009]

Go ahead and don''''t smoke.

But I must warn you of the dangers of living those extra 12 yrs.

Most people tend to be in a dementcia type state, poop in their "Depends", can''''t hear, and end up drooling over themselves, and just hanging around in their wheelchaires, wondering why the kids don''''t stop to see them, and realise they have been dead for two years now.

Now, don''''t you feel better about your future extra 12 yrs?

Posted by slim1h2o at 07:11 AM : Nov 28, 2008

It is quite evident that you truly do not know what you are talking about! There are many people in my town who are in their 70''s, 80''s and 90''s who can be seen power walking daily, playing tennis, and leading wonderful, productive, and satifying lives!!

And, of course there are those others in their 50''s, 60''s, and maybe some in their in 70''s who you may see out and about occasionally hooked up to their portable oxygen machines. Take your choice!

My mother died at age 64 in 1993, and she suffered horribly for 12 years from emphysema and COPD. I blame the tobacco companies and the FTC for lying to my mother and many others during the 1940''s, 1950''s and most of the 1960''s. What is your excuse?

[slim1h2o]

I have no problem with people smoking as long as they do it away from non-smokers and any children or animals. In fact, if people are stupid enough to smoke then I am in favor of them doing it. Why? Because, on average, smoking takes 12 years off of your life. That means the people stupid enough to smoke contribute money to the Social Security system but don''''t live long enough to get any money back out. Non-smokers who live 12 years longer end up benefitting from their stupidity. So go ahead, keep smoking!

Posted by lynnmac3 at 09:28 AM : Nov 27, 2008

Go ahead and don''t smoke.

But I must warn you of the dangers of living those extra 12 yrs.

Most people tend to be in a dementcia type state, poop in their "Depends", can''t hear, and end up drooling over themselves, and just hanging around in their wheelchaires, wondering why the kids don''t stop to see them, and realise they have been dead for two years now.

Now, don''t you feel better about your future extra 12 yrs?

[downtowner97]

The biggest problem I have with smokers is they get it on me. I leave the bar, and I still stink of cigarettes. What if I went to a bar and smeared feces on the smokers. Would they take offense to that?

People actually prefer the smell of human feces to cigarettes. Here''s proof: Go to someone''s house and ask if you can smoke inside. They''ll likely say no. Now ask if you can use their bathroom. I doubt very much they will say "You''re not going to poop in there, are you?"

[JamesB621]

mollydtt, I''ve seen people on oxygen smoking too but I''ll go you one better. Have you ever seen one of these COPDers smoke a cigarette through a hole in their neck? That''s addiction !!

[deckardbr]

DeckardBR,
It''''s not the Government''''s role.
COMMIE!
Posted by republic76 at 02:33 PM : Nov 27, 2008

I prefer, Commie-Pinko, until we get to know each other.

[tmn]

"I smoked since 1951. and quit the day I died in 04. I have been smoke free ever since."
====
Another happy customer!

[barbaraf4]

I wonder if the executives at the cigarette companies smoke. What about their families?

[mollydtt]

Sadly, I''ve seen people with emphysema, who have to have oxygen tanks nearby at all times--they have to have a cigarette in spite of it all. Not because the are in denial about the harm smoking will do, but because nicotine is so powerfully addictive.

I know that I have endured years and years of second hand smoke when I was a child living in a house with 2 smokers, and yet there isn''t much I could do about it.


No one wins in these situations. We have to allow people to smoke due to the addiction to nicotine, but we can''t ban smoking, or make smoking illegal.

The whole problem is a lose-lose situation, except for the tobacco farmers and cigarette manufacturers.

Heck, we have tobacco subsidies, or used to. ''nough said.

[robstrck]

Where are the billions of dollars from class action lawsuits by trial lawyers and the endless cigarette taxes by the government? The government needs how many trillions of dollars in bailouts? It''s all about the money. Don''t count on the government caring about anything but dictating how you should live and how much of your money they will take in taxes. If cigarettes are so dangerous, why not outlaw them completely? It''s all about the money.

[cdfoxtrot5]

I have no problem with people smoking as long as they do it away from non-smokers and any children or animals. In fact, if people are stupid enough to smoke then I am in favor of them doing it. Why? Because, on average, smoking takes 12 years off of your life. That means the people stupid enough to smoke contribute money to the Social Security system but don''''t live long enough to get any money back out. Non-smokers who live 12 years longer end up benefitting from their stupidity. So go ahead, keep smoking!

Posted by lynnmac3


Non-smokers also get to pay for the healthcare and lost productivity of people sickened by ciggies. There''s nothing good comes out of killing masses of people, unless you''re an exec. at a cigarette manufacturer.

[summarex]

I grew up in a smoking household and started smoking when I was 14. I smoked between 1 and 2 packs a day until I was 41 and finally quit because my lungs couldn''t take it any more. At 42 and for the first time in my life. I went though a whole year without a having a single bout of bronchitis. I repeated the stunt the next year and the year after that.


The smoking taxes and bans actually made me want to smoke more. I think I might have quit a lot earlier if I hadn''t had government animals trying to become stewards of my health. I don''t smoke anymore and would never go back. But I''d still like to find those government activists and crack their skulls open.

I wouldn''t mind an absolute ban but without the government activism.

[toolmangler-2009]

I smoked since 1951. and quit the day I died in 04. I have been smoke free ever since.

[legacyabq]

Oh yeah, by the way,

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Hehehee

[legacyabq]

Boys and girls, I will tell the truth, and no lies..

I have kicked heroin and methadone, but I still smoke cigarettes.. Nicotine is the MOST ADDICTIVE drug out there.. It is the WORST, it is insidious, it calls to you, it makes you speak lightly of long-term suicide, even though inside you dont feel that way..
It is so addictive, people become convinced they would rather die young than give it up..
Now THAT''s addicition..

[deckardbr]

The tobacco industry is murdering people, and it needs to be stopped.

Posted by Hominatrix53 at 08:43 AM : Nov 27, 2008

It''s a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.