Whether you are for, against, or apathetic to tobacco, Congress is working to ensure that tobacco and tobacco companies fall under FDA regulation.

The bill - under consideration before the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee today - would go beyond current restrictions on tobacco marketing set during a 1998 landmark settlement between 46 states and the tobacco industry. Regulators would have to review new tobacco products before they are sold, restrict marketing practices (especially those used to target children, like fruity-flavored cigarettes), give FDA the authority to ban harmful chemicals and additives in cigarettes and other tobacco products, and require manufacturers to disclose all ingredients in their products, not use statements such as "low tar" and "light" (which imply health benefits), and place larger warning labels on packages.

There are some pretty strong feelings on both sides of the fence, according to the Washington Post article - definitely check out the story for some great quotes.

Regulating tobacco isn't a new idea - many states have enforced bans on smoking in public places. Even traditionally tobacco-friendly Virginia has several smoking ban bills up for debate. (Scientific Blogging has had its share of back and forth on the issue as well - see comments on this post.)

H.R. 1256, otherwise known as the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, was sponsored by Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., who will be a big player in this session's push for health care reform. In his opening statement, Waxman defended the bill he's worked on for 10 years, saying it meets "the twin goals of assuring adequate funding for the tobacco program and protecting FDA' s ability to fulfill its other critically important responsibilities."

The bill says, "It is in the public interest for Congress to enact legislation that provides the Food and Drug Administration with the authority to regulate tobacco products and the advertising and promotion of such products. The benefits to the American people from enacting such legislation would be significant in human and economic terms." The bill also calls for a Center for Tobacco Products to be created in FDA.

Interestingly, the bill calls for FDA guidance on assessment and review of tobacco products, including morbidity/mortality, outcomes, biomarkers and even behavioral studies.