In a letter to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products, the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), American Lung Association, American Thoracic Society, and 15 other health organizations called on the FDA to further curb tobacco marketing to youth and racial and ethnic minorities. The letter responds to an FDA request for input on the issue.
In addition to detailing youth and minority smoking rates and health consequences, along with the history of tobacco advertising and promotion to youth and racial and ethnic minority populations, the letter provides an action plan for enforcement of regulations. The AARC and others advise the FDA to “look beyond traditional enforcement mechanisms and structures, and set up a system working with other agencies, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations to ensure adherence to marketing restrictions.”
The 18 organizations urge the FDA to focus on “filling the remaining gaps not addressed by current regulations.”
The letter also recommends FDA action on tobacco packaging, online advertising and social media, licensing and monitoring, counter-advertising, and surveillance and evaluation.
Source: American Association for Respiratory Care
