Tobacco Documents Online

HT®0033051 Page 50 RBOORD Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania ,7une 26, 1964 Cigarette Warning The Federal Trade Commission issued a rule Wednesday requiring a dear warning that cigarette smoking may cause death from cancer and other dis- eases on cigarette labels by Jan. i and on advertising by July 1, 1965. The rule announced by Paul Rand Dixon, chairman of the FTC, said "it is an unfair or deceptive act or practice to fall to disclose, clearly and prominent- ly, in all advertising and on every pack, box, carton or other container in which cigarettes are sold to the consuming public, that ciPatwtte smoking is dan- ireorus to heaitn ana ,nay cause death from cancer and other diaeases." The expected response from the cigar- ettee industry came yesterday from the president of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. He said the Fl'C does ~tot have the authority to issue the rule, which he described as a power grab by the federal government-unlawful, unwise and un- fair. The tobacco Industry spokesman arti gued that if any federal action Is taken it should be voted by Congress. not de- creed by an independent federal agency. The FTC ruling was made under that agency's power to forbid unfair or decep- tive acts or practices in the sale and ad- vertising of consumer products. The agency has power to safeguard the pcb- lic and to enforce truthful labeling. The ruling came as a surprise during a squabble between the FTC and the FDA - another three•letter federal agency (the Food and flruor Administra- tion)--0ver which one nas the power to regulate cigarette labels. Surgeon General Luther L. Terry, whose special scientific advisory com- tnittee found cigarette smoking a def:- nite health hazard in a major report to the nation, told the House Commerce Committee a day before the F'PC ruling that he befleved new legislation Is need- ed from Congress to give the FTC neces- sary power. Some new legislation may be needed. Perhaps the FTC and the FDA already have the necessary power. ' The courts will have to decide that Issue. But the basic medical fact remaine- smoking is clearly a healtlt hazard. Both the FTC and the FDA are sup- posed to protect the public from danger- oue and unhealthy products on the open market. Their duty to require some warning on cigarette labels and adver- tising Is absolutely clear. If the courts strike down the FTC ruling, aome Congressionai action may be necessary. The storm and the challenge of FTC power should be expected from the to• bacco induatty, which Is out to protect its interests. But the industry argument that noth- ing should be done before scientific evi- dence of the relationship between smok- ing and cancer is definitely explained ie a delay tactic and not an answer. The scientific relationship between smoking and cancer and other diseases does require further study. But the fact of the relationship has been established beyond doubt by many medical authori- tiea. lt is unfair, unhealthy, and unwise for federal government agenciea charg- ed with protecting the public not to reg- ulate cigarette labels and advertising. 7%e millions of addicts who continue to amoke should be clearly warned that they do so at their own riek.