AGD signed on to a March 27, coalition letter expressing opposition to H.R. 1136, the FDA Deeming Clarification Act of 2017, which would weaken the U.S. Federal Drug Administration’s (FDA) ability to review and regulate tobacco products.

Specifically, the bill would make changes to the Tobacco Control Act and thereby exempt electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), cigars and other tobacco products from the FDA’s mandated scientific review, which assesses the product’s health risks, addictiveness and likelihood that it would increase the number of young people who use tobacco products.

AGD joined more than 40 other health care organizations in signing the letter and has long supported efforts to sustain FDA regulations and oversight of tobacco products. AGD signed on to a letter last year urging the House Committee on Appropriations to exclude similar language in Fiscal Year 2017 Appropriations legislation.