ORIGinat 03 HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Scrvico DEPARTMENT OF HEAL TH Dug Food Administration Rockville MD 20857 Comissi IRADE GRAL "pq495e? 6  1997 OCT dcr 2 > /; Baa3/71o085 Donald Clark SecrEtary Secretary Federal Trade Commission Room 159 N.W Sixth Street Pennsylvania Avenue_ and Washington 20580 DC FTC Cigarette Testing Methodology Re: FTC File No. P9445509 Dear Mr,. Clark: the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published its Request for Public In September, 1997 Comment on proposed revisions (0 its methodology for determining tar nicotine and carbon proposed format for disclosing the ratings in advertising yields of cigarettes, and monoxide A sixty day comiment period was given, expiring on November 17, 1997 . The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) believes that the FTC' proposal raises serious Although important and complex issues, which deserve careful and thoughtful consideration. 1996 tobacco regulation is on promotion of and access t0 tobacco products the focus of FDA We want I0 proffer keen interest in these issues as well_ by young people the agency has but the press of current business will prevent our meeting thoughtful response I0 your notice we request that the deadline be extended an additional 60 days_ your deadline Therefore to and including. January 16, 1998 During this past year. FDA has been heavily involvcd with implementing its regulations defending these regulations and its assertion of jurisdiction over tobacco products in court, and settlement proposed by Ile tobacco industry assisting the Administration with an analysis of we have continued our interest in the scientific and various State Attorneys General, However assertion of issues that were explored in the investigation that led up t0 the agency Among supplied by the FTC, on the sales analysis of the data jurisdiction_ (hese were Our That evidence was instrumental in weighled tar and nicotine levels of cigarettes over time assertion that tobacco companies can and do control the level of nicotine in the products FDA investigation revealed that companics use various they manufacture and sell. The agency' use of added chemicals (0 ways t0 control nicotine levels, including plant and leaf selection and modifying the pH of the effect; modifying the cigarettes construction boost nicoline' We believe these issues are relevant I0 your inquiry and need t0 be smoke , among others. explored further_ 8 8
ORIGinat 03 DEPARTMENT OF HEAL TH HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Scrvico Food Dug Administration Rockville MD 20857 GRAL IRADE Comissi "pq495e? dcr 2 > /; Baa3/71o085 SecrEtary OCT 6  1997 Donald Clark Secretary Federal Trade Commission Room 159 Sixth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue_ N.W Washington DC 20580 Re: FTC Cigarette Testing Methodology FTC File No. P9445509 Dear Mr,. Clark: In September, 1997 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published its Request for Public Comment on proposed revisions (0 its methodology for determining tar nicotine and carbon monoxide yields of cigarettes, and proposed format for disclosing the ratings in advertising A sixty day comiment period was given, expiring on November 17, 1997 . The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) believes that the FTC' proposal raises serious important and complex issues, which deserve careful and thoughtful consideration. Although the focus of FDA 1996 tobacco regulation is on promotion of and access t0 tobacco products by young people the agency has keen interest in these issues as well_ We want I0 proffer thoughtful response I0 your notice but the press of current business will prevent our meeting your deadline Therefore we request that the deadline be extended an additional 60 days_ to and including. January 16, 1998 During this past year. FDA has been heavily involvcd with implementing its regulations defending these regulations and its assertion of jurisdiction over tobacco products in court, and assisting the Administration with an analysis of settlement proposed by Ile tobacco industry and various State Attorneys General, However we have continued our interest in the scientific issues that were explored in the investigation that led up t0 the agency assertion of jurisdiction_ Among (hese were Our analysis of the data supplied by the FTC, on the sales weighled tar and nicotine levels of cigarettes over time That evidence was instrumental in FDA assertion that tobacco companies can and do control the level of nicotine in the products they manufacture and sell. The agency' investigation revealed that companics use various ways t0 control nicotine levels, including plant and leaf selection use of added chemicals (0 boost nicoline' effect; modifying the cigarettes construction and modifying the pH of the smoke , among others. We believe these issues are relevant I0 your inquiry and need t0 be explored further_ 8 8