FDA Regulation: What It's All About

Deyton, Lawrence

Thursday, August 16, 2012: 10:30 AM

3501G (Kansas City Convention Center)

Dr. Lawrence Deyton, MD, MSPH , FDA Center for Tobacco Products

Mr. Danny Saggese, MBA , Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, Richmond, VA

Ms. Soni Dighe, MS , Rescue Social Change Group, Alexandria, VA

Blayne Allen, Youth Advocate , Virginia

Mr. Nataanii Hatathlie, Youth Advocate , Rural American Indian Population, NM

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this presentation attendees will be able to:

Describe authority given to the FDA by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.
Identify strategies for youth involvement to support FDA tobacco regulation.
Describe the importance of youth efforts to increase awareness and generate understanding of FDA tobacco regulations amongst the general public.

Cross Cutting Program Area(s): Tobacco Control Policies and Tobacco Regulation

Audience: This session is intended for local, state, and national level tobacco control organizations and youth advocates who are interested in an overview of the Tobacco Control Act and FDA’s new authority to control tobacco products. Furthermore, it is also intended for public health funders, practitioners, and youth who want to be involved with and engage communities to support the FDA’s efforts.

Key Points: On June 22, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was granted the authority to regulate tobacco products. Among others, FDA is charged with reducing tobacco initiation and use among adolescents. To this effect, FDA regulations are being put in place that limit the sale, distribution, and marketing of tobacco products. This presentation provides an overview of the Tobacco Control Act and FDA’s new authority. We describe what it means to regulate tobacco products and highlight regulations designed to reduce youth initiation. Ways in which youth can be involved in the regulatory process will also be discussed and youth advocates will provide real-life examples of how they have participated in the process.

Educational Experience: The session includes an interactive activity during which youth will demonstrate how they have informed and engaged the public to support FDA regulations in their communities and how they plan to continue the work.

Benefits: This session will provide clarification regarding the FDA’s jurisdiction and restrictions in regulating tobacco control products. It will also provide practical examples to translate the FDA’s complex regulations into issues that are relevant to youth and easy to understand by the general public.