Philip Morris
Analysis, Report, and Recommendations of the American Medical Association Task Force on the Proposed Tobacco Settlement Agreement
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- Author
- Achinger, M.J.
- Anstadt, G.W.
- Bigelow, M.W.
- Callender, D.L.
- Davis, R.M.
- Harr, P.B.
- Hill, J.E.
- Holley, D.R.
- Levine, R.H.
- Mccaffree, R.
- Slade, J.
- Smoak, R.D.
- Anstadt, G.W.
- Document File
- 2072041000/2072041453/Proposed Tobacco Settlement
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- Presidential Commission
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- US Dept of Justice
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- Usda, U.S. Dept of Agriculture
- Who Framework Tobacco Control Convention
- Who, World Health Org
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- World Medical Assn
- Agency for Health Care Policy + Research
- Site
- N928
- Named Person
- Barnett, P.G.
- Becker, G.S.
- Bierig, J.R.
- Brady
- Cipollone
- Clayton
- Davis, M.W.
- Deem, R.
- Fiscella, K.
- Franks, P.
- Grossman, M.
- Harris, J.
- Houston, T.
- Hu, T.
- Ile, M.L.
- Johnson, K.B.
- Keeler, T.E.
- Kessler, D.A.
- Koop, C.E.
- Manning, W.G.
- Merrill, T.W.
- Minow, N.N.
- Murphy, K.
- Nyhan, L.J.
- Rice, D.P.
- Sherman
- Becker, G.S.
- Author (Organization)
- Amed, American Medical Association
- Master ID
- 2072041005/1069
Related Documents:- 2072041005 Untitled Document 2072041005
- 2072041006-1007 Ama Calls Tobacco Deal "A Landmark Effort" But Modifications Must Be Made
- 2072041008 Untitled Document 2072041008
- 2072041009 Bio. For Randolph D. Smoak, Jr., Md
- 2072041010-1012 Ama Recommendations Proposed Tobacco Settlement
- 2072041013-1014 American Medical Association Task Force on Proposed Tobacco Settlement Agreement
- Litigation
- Feda/Produced
- Date Loaded
- 26 Nov 2002
- UCSF Legacy ID
- brv32c00
Document Images
JiJL-31-1997 11:43
American Medical Association
Phcsjciana dedicated to the health of ~1merica
ANALYSIS, REPORT, AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF
THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION TASK FORCc ON
THE PROPOSED TOBACCO SETfLEMENT AGREEMENT
P.14i71
r

JUL-31-1997 11:43
ANALYSIS, REPORT, AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF
THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION TASK FORCE ON
THE PROPOSED TOBACCO SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
George W. Anstadt, M.D.,
Chair
Michael J. Achinger, M.D.
Michael W. Bigelow, M.D.
David L. Callender, M.D.
Ronald M. Davis, M.D.
Patrick B. Harr, M.D.
Staff:
Kirk B. Johnson
Thomas Houston, M.D.
Michael L. Ile
Richard Deem
/
J. Edward Hill, M.D.
David R. Holley, M.D.
Ronald H. Levine, M.D.
D. Robert McCaffree, M.D.
John Slade, M.D.
Randolph D. Smoak, M.D.
Consultants:
SIDLEY & AUSTIN
Newton N. Minow
Jack R. Bierig
Michael W. Davis
Thomas W. Merrill
Larry J. Nyhan
P. 16/71

JUL-31-1997 11:44
P.20i71
(2) The Impact of Limitations on Liability ......................... 38
VIII. Preserving'Ihe Integrity Of The Settlement .......................... 39
(1) Nonsigning Tobacco Manufacturers .......................... 40
(2) Enforcement Of Consent Decrees ........................... 41
(3) Severability ..................................... . ... 42
(4) Global Extension ...................................... 42
IX. Recommendations .......................................... 43
(1) Essential Changes ..................................... 43
(2) Strongly Recommended Changes ............................ 45
(3) Recommended Changes ................................. 46

JUL-31-1997 11:43
TABLE_OF CONTENTS
P.18i71
Introduction ................... ............................... I
I. FDA Jurisdiction ........................................... 4
(1)
(2)
(3) Express Conferral of Jurisdiction on FDA ....................... 4
The Scope of FDA Jurisdiction .............................. 5
Limitations on FDA's Jurisdiction ............................ 6
(a) Except as Expressly Stated, FDA's Authority Over Tobacco Products
Should Be No Different From Its General Authority Over Drugs and
Devices ........................................6
(b) Restrictions on the FDA's Promulgation of "Perfotmance Standards"
............................................. 7
(c) The Definition of "Tobacco Product" .................... 10
II. Advertising and Marketing Restrictions ............................ 10
(1) First Amendment Issues ................................. 11
(2) Tombstone-Only Advertising in All Publications . ................. 12
(3) Advertising Restrictions As A Five Year Trial Period ............... 13
(4) Miscellaneous Clarifications ................................ 14
III. Restrictions on.Youth Access ................................... 14
IV. Economic Incentives -- Smokers ................................. 16
(1) Interpreting the Pass Through ...... . ....................... 18
(2) Tax Deductibility ......................... . . . . ......... 19 .
(3) Public Health Benefits of Price Increases ....................... 20
V. Economic Incentives -- Tobacco Companies ......................... 22
(1) Automatic Pass Through and Tax Deductibility of the Surcharge ........ 23
(2) Collective Responsibility for the Surcharge ..................... 24
(3) Use of Profits Rather Than Social Costs ....................... 27
(4) The $2 Billion Annual Cap ............................... 29
(5) Rewards for Companies that Exceed the Targets .................. 30
(6) Future Targets and Targets for Smokeless Tobacco ................ 32.
(7), The Role of the FDA .................................... 32
VI. Funding of Public Health Progratas ... ........................... 33
V1I. Civil Liability ............................................ 36
(1) Limitations on Liability .................................. . 36
2072041020
f
1

JUL-31-1997 11:41
'[he preemptive effect of federal youth access restrictions should be narrowed and
clarified so that states and local governments may impose civil sanctions on tobacco
retailers beyond the federal mittimum.
P.09i71
The preemptive effect of federal advertising restrictions should be narrowed and clarified so
that states and local governments may regulate local advertising and marketing and may
impose counter-advertising requirements on tobacco companies.
The restriction on advertising to tombstone-only format should be extended to
all publications.
A federalagency (such as HHS) should be given overall responsibility for
disbursemetu of the Public Health component of the annual Payments. including
oversight of grant recipients and authority to make adjusttnents in allocations in
future years.
The provisions regarding nonsigning companies should be modified so as to
avoid erecting unnecessary barriers to new entry.
The Look B'ack program should have targets for reduction of underage use of
smokeless tobacco identical to the targets for reduction in underage smoking.
Throughout its report, the Task Force recommends a number of additional clarifications or f
refinements.
If the changes that the Task Force has identified or equivalent changes are adopted by the
Administration and Congress, the proposed settlement would be an historic event if the life-ordeath
struggle to reduce tobacco use to a tninimum. Accordingly, the Board of Trustees of the AMA has
conuttirted the resources of the AMA to press for the inclusion of these changes in any legislation
adopted by Congress.

JUL-31-1997 11:46
P.27i'71
Tobacco product manufacturers would be subjected to good manufacturing
practice standards in a manner similar to the oversight exercised by FDA over
other drug and device manufacturers.
FDA would be permitted to adopt "performance standards" that could require
the modification of tobacco products to reduce the harm they cause, including
(subject to restrictions discussed below) modifications in nicotine content.
These additional forms of regulation could be asserted by FDA on its own authority if
its jurisdiction to promulgate the 1996 regulations is upheld by the courts. FIowever, the
settlement probably accelerates the timing of these additional forms of regulation.
If there were no set:Iement. FDA might wait until all appeals are exhausted
before moving to adopt any of the additional regulations contemplated by the
settlement. These appeals might not be resolved for several years.
FDA might also lack funding to take on some of these additional forms of
regulation -- something which the settlement provides. Congress has not been
eager to increase substantially the funds available to FDA to regulate tobacco
products.
(3) LImltations on FDA's Jurisdiction.
Ideally, any legislation confirming FDA jurisdiction to regulate tobacco products would
permit the agency to adopt any form of regulation consistent with the public interest. Tbis
approach may not be possible within the context of a settlement. However, even if it is
necessary to recognize some limitations on FDA authority - at least for a period of time -
those limitations should not include substantive and procedural barriers that have no plausible
public health justification and that are likely to frustrate FDA efforts to reduce the adverse
public health effects of tobacco use.
Set forth below are several'areas in which the proposed settlement imposes
unacceptable limitations on FDA authority or where the language is sufficiently ambiguous to
require clarification to assure that unacceptable limitations are not created through
interpretation.

JUL-31-1997 11147
P.28i71
(a) Except as Expressly Stated, FDA's Authority Over Tobacco
Products Should Be No Different From Its General Authority Over
Drugs and Devices.
The general approach to FDA authority in the proposed settlement appears to be cue of
"enumerated powers." The settlement lists and describes a number of categories of FDA
authority over tobacco products, including advertising and marketing, youth access, reduced
risk products, perfortnance standards, manufacturing oversight, access to company
information, and non-tobacco ingredients.
There is a danger that such an approach will lead to the inference that if a
specific power is not granted to FDA, it is by implication denied.
For example, if FDA is not specifically given authority to regulate flavoring
ingredients, can FDA regulate flavorings that have strong appeal to youths (such
as cherry flavoring in smokeless tobacco) under its authority to regulate non-
tobacco ingredients shown to be "harmful"?
Similarly, FDA may want to acquire information about, or require companies to
perform safety assessments concerning, ingredients contained in substances
derived fronl tobacco, as well as ingredients added to tobacco. It is not clear
that the settlement as drafted would permit this (I.F.).
A better approach would be to grant FDA full authority over tobacco products as
"drugs" and "devices" under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, subject to express exceptions.
The burden should be on the tobacco companies to spell out with specificity the
ways in which FDA authority to regulate tobacco products as drugs or devices
will be limited.
The burden should not be on government regulators and the public health
community to imagine every conceivable issue that might arise in the future,
and to devise specific statutory language conferring authority on FDA to tackle
the problem.
Any legislation implementing the settlement should therefore include a constructional
principle stating that, except as otherwise expressly indicated, FDA has all power and
authority to regulate all tobacco products as drugs and devices under the Food, Drug and
Cosmetics Act.

JUL-31-1997 11:46
There thus remains a possibility that the courts will ultimately decide that FDA lacks any
authority, or has only Iimited authority, to regulate tobacco products under current law.
P.26i71
The settlement eliminates this legal uncertainty and expressly confers jurisdiction on the
FDA to regulate tobacco products and ingredients, tobacco product manufacturing, marketing,
and access to tobacco products.
Moreover, the adoption of legislation expressly conferring authority on FDA to
regulate tobacco would lend legitimacy to the agency's efforts.
0
With a new legislative mandate, FDA will be more likely to receive support
from the general public for its efforts aggressively to regulate tobacco products.
Of course, Congress has the power to adopt legislation confuming FDA jurisdiction to
regulate tobacco products without the settlement. Realistically, however, the chances of such
legislation being adopted are greater if presented as part of a settlement that has the support of
the tobacco industry.
(2) The Scope of FDA Jurisdiction.
In addition to confinning FDA's jurisdiction to regulate the sale and promotion of
tobacco products, the settlement expressly directs FDA to regulate in ways that go significantly
beyond that contemplated in the FDA's 1996 regulations, "Restricting the Sale and
Distribution of Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco to Protect Children and Adolescettrs. "3 For -
examplc:
The FDA would be authorized to promulgate rules governing the testing,
reporting, and disclosure of tobacco smoke constituents about which the FDA
believes the public should be informed in order to protect public health.
Manufacturers would be required to provide FDA with a list of all ingredients,
substances, and compounds which are added to their tobacco products and,
within five years after enactment of the Act, to conduct safety assessments on
such additives.
Manufacturers would be required to notify FDA of any technology that they
develop or acquire that reduces the risk from tobacco products and, for a
reasonable fee, to license this technology to companies that are subject to the
same restrictions. Additionally, FDA would have the authority to mandate the
introduction of less hazardous tobacco products that are technologically feasible.
' 61 Federal Register 44396 (August 28, 1996).
5

JUL-31-1997 11:44
P.?271
ANALYSIS, REPORT, AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF
THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION TASK FORCE ON
THE PROPOSED TOBACCO SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
Introduction
The proposed tobacco litigation settlement represents an historic opportunity.
Structured properly, the settlement could provide a powerful and effective tool for overcoming
the scourge of underage smoking and for achieving substantial and permanent reductions in
tobacco use. The settlement would also permit these goals to be pursued immediately, without
the uncertainty and delay of further litigation.
Yet the proposed settlement is also fraught with peril. It gives the tobacco industry
what it most desperately wants: relief from the threat of significant civil liability. It is the
threat of such liability, more than anything else, that has brought the industry to the bargaining
table. Once that threat is removed, the industry will have little incentive to cooperate further.
Thus, it is essential that the settlement produce real, permanent, and major public health
benefits. '
The Task Force has undertaken a comprehensive analysis of the proposed settlement.
We believe the negotiators have produced a framework that provides a promising ba'sis for
delivering on the required public health benefits. On the other hand, a number of critical
improvements must be m:.de if the settlement is to produce the desired results.
In particular, the Task Force believes that two changes are essential:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must be given express authority to
regulate tobacco products in the same manner, using the same procedures, as
would generally apply to drugs and devices, with one exception: FDA would be
subject to a 12 year moratorium against implementing action that would ban the
sale of traditional tobacco products or require the elimination of nicotine from
such products.
The Look Back surcharge program, designed to provide financial incentives to
tobacco companies to achieve stated targets in the reduction of underage
smoking, should be given real teeth. As structured in the proposed settlement,
this program would be ineffectual. We propose realistic sanctions that assure
that the targets for underage smoking reduction set by the negotiators will
actually be met.
An ideal legislative package for regulating tobacco products would contain all of the
provisions set forth in previous AMA policy statements and many of the elements advocated in
I :.

JUL-31-1997 11:45
P.25i71
The Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association has endorsed the
recommendations of the Task Force. It has committed the resources of the AMA to press for
their inclusion in any legislation adopted by Congress.
Y. FDA Jurisdiction.
The proposed settlement calls for legislation that would expressly confer jurisdiction on
FDA to regulate tobacco products. Such legislation would immediately resolve the current
legal challeage to FDA's authority, and would place the full weight and authority of Congress
and the American people behind FDA regulatory efforts. In these respects, the settlement is
clearly desirable.
On the other hand, provisions in the proposed settlement that are likely to limit or
frustrate the effectiveness of FDA oversight must be minimized. The tobacco industry would,
of course, like to secure predictability about the future of FDA regulation of tobacco products.
Such predictability, however, should not take the form of ill-advised substantive and
procedural hurdles that may unduly burden FDA efforts to protect and enhance the public
health.
(1) Express Conferral of Jurisdiction on FDA.
Although FDA has asserted jurisdiction over tobacco products under current law, its
authority to do so is under challenge.
Strong arguments have been advanced in support of FDA jurisdiction under
current law. Moreover, recent revelations about the intent of tobacco
companies to use tobacco products to affect the structure or function of the
human body enhance the force of FDA's conclusion that these products meet the
legal definitions of "drug" and "device" under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic
Act.
Further, a federal court in North Carolina has sustained FDA's jurisdiction over
tobacco products in a thorough opinion.2
Nevertheless, that ruling is now on appeal. Whether the Court of Appeals - or
possibly the Supreme Court -- would ultimately sustain or reject FDA
jurisdiction over tobacco products under current law is a difficult question that
has divided legal experts.
_C2yne Beahm. Inc. v. Kessl ~, 958 F.Supp. 1060 (D. N. Car., April 25, 1997).
