The Food and Drug Administration's Regulation of Tobacco Products

On August 23, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a regulation restricting the sale and distribution of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to children and adolescents.1 This regulation, known as a rule, is the most far-reaching measure ever instituted to reduce the use of tobacco by young people. This article describes the investigation that led the FDA to assert its jurisdiction over cigarettes and smokeless tobacco and the policy considerations that shaped the final rule. The FDA announced on February 25, 1994, that it was considering regulating tobacco products under the authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. . . .