New cigarette warning labels unveiled by the Food and Drug Administration will help give us the momentum needed to eradicate tobacco use in our nation. For the first time in 25 years, cigarette warning labels have been dramatically altered to graphically demonstrate the specific, serious health risks associated with smoking and these warnings will not only tell smokers how bad tobacco use is, but also direct them to smoking cessation resources that can help them quit.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 45 million Americans smoke cigarettes, about 20 percent of the population, and one in five high school students still smoke. The new health warnings represent an aggressive and welcome approach to reducing smoking rates that have leveled off in recent years as tobacco companies continue to launch campaigns to entice new smokers and maintain current customers.

The American Heart Association strongly believes that the graphic depictions of smoking-related diseases on cigarette packages will drive home the message that tobacco use is an equal opportunity killer, affecting smokers and nonsmokers alike. In the U.S., about one-third of smoking-related deaths are linked to heart disease and stroke. Cigarette smoking causes about 443, 000 premature deaths each year and about 49, 000 of these deaths are due to secondhand smoke. Undoubtedly, the new graphic health warnings will heighten awareness about the dangers of smoking and more importantly, encourage smokers to quit and discourage smoking initiation. We’re confident that the new labels will move us closer to our goal of making the nation 100 percent smoke-free.

http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/Labeling/CigaretteWarningLabels/default.htm

As federal regulators finalize pending rules for cigarette warning labels in the U.S., it’s important to note the tremendous impact of graphic labels and statements in countries where tobacco use is deeply embedded in the culture. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report “Cigarette Package Health Warnings and Interest in Quitting Smoking” states prominent warnings on cigarette packages in countries with high adult smoking rates have been most effective in encouraging smokers to quit. The findings demonstrate the undeniable influence of large, graphic warning labels on individuals who smoke manufactured cigarettes.
Specific messages and graphic depictions of smoking-related diseases have great potential to curb a global tobacco epidemic. They can make individuals think twice about starting a deadly habit and encourage smokers to quit and improve their cardiovascular and overall health. Tobacco-related illnesses kill more than five million people worldwide each year. In the U.S. alone, about one-third of smoking-related deaths are linked to heart disease and stroke. We strongly believe that graphic warnings labels that convey information about the health risks of smoking can also discourage smoking initiation among youth and former smokers.

The American Heart Association recommends expanding the label statement and warning requirement to include information on smoking cessation resources. The Food and Drug Administration should require manufacturers to include referrals to government-run smoking cessation resources such as 1-800-quit-now and http://www.smokefree.gov/ on tobacco product packages and advertising. By including these resources along with the required label statements and graphic warnings, tobacco users would not only be told how bad tobacco use is, but also how to quit.

The online version of the journal can be found at www.cdc.gov/mmwr.

Right now, you have the opportunity to share your thoughts about the new, graphic cigarette warning labels. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is currently trying to decide which warnings will appear on all cigarette packs and advertisements, and they need to hear from you!

Take a minute today to tell them what you think!

The FDA will soon require that all cigarette packages have new, stronger warnings – including pictures that cover the top half of the front and back of packs. It will also require that all cigarette advertisements have warnings that cover 20 percent of the ad!

These warnings labels must be strong and effective to combat the horrible addiction that can lead to heart disease and stroke and a number of other devastating health effects. It is important that the warnings are strong enough to deter young people from starting to smoke and strong enough to encourage smokers to quit.

Take a look at the proposed warning labels here.

Do you think they are strong enough? Are there ones you like better than others? Do you have suggestions for making them stronger or more effective?

Tell the FDA! Let them know you want the strongest warning labels possible!

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act was signed into law on June 22, 2009. This act gave the FDA power to regulate the tobacco industry. The following is an update on the new federal restrictions on tobacco product sales and marketing that went into effect on June 22, 2010. To download this as a fact sheet, click here.

From the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

[Signed into law June 22, 2009]

• Prohibition of “light,” “low,” “mild,” and all similar descriptors in all advertising, labeling and marketing of cigarettes and smokeless products.
• Larger, stronger warning labels required on all smokeless tobacco packages and in all smokeless tobacco product advertisements. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must also publish a new rule requiring stronger warning labels on cigarette packs and advertising, including graphic images, no later than June 22, 2011, with the final rule going into effect 15 months after that.

From the New Final Rule Required by the Act

• The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act directs the FDA to issue a final rule, effective June 22, 2010, to establish the following new restrictions and requirements. 
• No cigarette or smokeless tobacco sales to minors (less than age 18). Although such sales have been prohibited by state laws for some time, this is the first time they are prohibited by federal law, and the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act also establishes new federal enforcement efforts, including compliance checks. 
• No vending machine sales or self-service displays of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco except in adult-only facilities. 
• No sales of cigarettes in packages of fewer than 20 cigarettes. Sales of loose cigarettes or mini packs can increase youth use. 
• No branded product tie-ins (e.g., T-shirts with brand names or images) with purchases of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products. 
• No branded sponsorships of athletic or cultural events by cigarette or smokeless manufacturers, distributors or retailers. 
• No free samples of any tobacco products, except limited free samples of smokeless tobacco products allowed in temporary adult-only facilities in certain restricted situations.

Delayed Final Rule Provisions

• No new restrictions on outdoor cigarette or smokeless advertising near schools. The original final rule to be issued June 22, 2010 called for a total ban on any outdoor cigarette or smokeless ads within 1000 feet of schools or playgrounds. But the new law directed FDA to make changes to this provision prior to the publication of the Final Rule if FDA determined that any modifications were appropriate in light of governing case law regarding the First Amendment and permissible restrictions on commercial speech. On March 19, 2010, FDA published the Final Rule without any provision relating to outdoor ads near schools or playgrounds, at all, but issued a related notice and request for comments on that same topic. See http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/ProtectingKidsfromTobacco/RegsRestrictingSale/default.htm.
• All cigarette and smokeless advertising must be black text on white background only – with all audio ads only spoken words with no sound effects or music – except in adult-only facilities and in magazines with less than 15% or fewer than 2 million youth readers. After enactment, members of the tobacco industry brought legal challenges against many of the provisions in the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act and the Final Rule. To date, all of the provisions scheduled to go into effect on June 22, 2010 have been upheld by the courts except that a Kentucky U.S. District Court ruled that this provision requiring certain ads to be only black text on white background violates the First Amendment’s protections for commercial speech. That ruling has been appealed by the federal government; but the provision will not go into effect unless the appeal is successful.

The launch of the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products and selection of Dr. Lawrence Deyton as the center’s first director represent a swift call to action to protect Americans from the dangers of smoking-related illnesses. We’re pleased the FDA is aggressively moving forward with implementation of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act which will help curb tobacco use among children and reduce their risk for heart disease, stroke and other chronic diseases. With more than 400,000 Americans dying each year of tobacco use, the FDA must not hesitate in holding a renegade industry accountable.

The Center for Tobacco Products will play a major role in efforts to make our nation 100 percent tobacco free, reduce health care costs and create a healthier future for our families. We’re confident Dr. Deyton’s expertise and notable track record in the area of tobacco control and dedication to public health will have a strong impact on the Center’s ability to rein in the tobacco industry’s destructive campaign to addict and harm millions of Americans.

Yesterday, President Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act into law. This is a monumental victory for public health and is an issue the American Heart Association has been working on for over a decade. Thank your legislators for passing this extremely important law by visiting http://www.heartprescription.org


The bill will:
* Restrict the flood of advertising aimed at enticing our children into a lifetime of tobacco addiction
* Require the tobacco companies to disclose the ingredients in their products
* Require stronger and more prominent warnings about the health risks of smoking
* Help reduce the number of deaths from heart disease and stroke caused by tobacco use!
* Finally put tobacco products under the same scrutiny as mac n' cheese, make-up, dog food, and nearly every other consumer product on the market!

For more on the history of the American Heart Association's involvement visit http://yourethecure.blogspot.com to read reflections from former CEOs Cass Wheeler and Dudley Hafner!

Statement by American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown

The U.S. Senate has taken a bold and courageous step to ensure a healthier future for our children with passage of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The legislation will allow us to protect them from a dirty business that has infiltrated school grounds and homes for many generations. For far too long, the industry has misled consumers and manipulated children with false claims about its deadly products. Too many graveyards are marked by the consequences of the industry’s actions. With each puff of a cigarette, smokers increase their risk for heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases and Big Tobacco’s irresponsible marketing campaigns have made it increasingly difficult to break the cycle of addiction and save lives. This legislation provides a tremendous opportunity to finally hold tobacco companies accountable and restrict efforts to addict more children and adults. It has been a long and challenging process to move the bill through Congress but the determination of many concerned parents and supporters has never wavered. The Senate vote is a significant victory for all Americans as we try to reduce the devastating toll tobacco use has inflicted on our communities.

We commend Senators Ted Kennedy, Christopher Dodd and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for their leadership and commitment in passing strong tobacco control legislation that will improve the health of our nation.

Senators have a chance now to finally protect our kids from deadly tobacco addiction and the increased risk of heart disease and stroke that comes with it. Legislation that would give the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco products and marketing is moving rapidly in the US Senate.

Tell your Senators to Cosponsor the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.


Summary
The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act will save lives by finally giving the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate tobacco products and to curb the industry’s marketing of their deadly products to our children. Tobacco kills over 400,000 Americans every year. Approximately 150,000 of these smoking-related deaths are from cardiovascular disease. Smoking is a major cause of cardiovascular disease, our nation’s number 1 killer. Despite these alarming numbers, tobacco has remained largely unregulated, exempt from basic consumer protections.

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