Tobacco Documents Online

Attachment A EXCERPTS FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NCAB, - FOR THE YELA-R 1973 "...Cigarette smoking remains the most remediable cause of cancer deaths in the United Sta.tes--and the one which seems hardest to change. Even with overt cigarette advertising banned from television, the immense advertising budgets of the tobacco companies, the i=ediate economic benefits:to the-tobacco growers, the cigarette nanufactu_rers, 4nd indeed to governments through taxation, have helped to lead hosts of young Americans down-the-long road that leads to death-for some 74-,000 persons per year in this country. While there is at present no way to declare any cigarette safe, it should be possible to deny those cigarettes whic: are obviously hig& - in nicotine and tar access to interstate commerce and thereby discourage their manufacture._ At present neither the FDA, nor the Environmental Protection Agency-has jurisdiction. 'I'he FDA and the- EPA are specifically denied this authority. Appropriate regulatory powers should_be enacted by the Congress_. Likewise, the advertising of cigarettes could be banned. While these measures would not eliminate the ciigarette habit, they would reduce the dose of-noxious materials inspired and provide a medium in which educational programs might have far more impact." (Page 5) "Resol_utions Recognizing the continuing tragedy of lung cancer caused by cigarette smoking the Board-adopted two resolutions on smoking and health during 1973. At its March meeting, the Board voted that-the Congress be urged to take steps to require that tar and nicotine ievels be labeled on cigarette packages. -In Piovember, the Board recommended unanimously that the Government take alil vigorous steps possible to reduce cigarette smoking. Further, the Board recommended that the Federal Government make the fullest possible use of its regulatory authorities for the protection of human health to reduce the health hazard from smoking cigarettes.t0 (Pages 9 and 10) a