Tobacco Documents Online

March 28, 1985 J James C. Mi i l er, i t i Chai rman Federal Trade Commission S i xth Street and Pennsy l vani a Av enue, N. W. Wash I ngton, D. C. 20580 Dear Mr. Mi i l er : The Subcomm ittee on Heal th and the Env i ronment i s currenti y rev iew ing the adequacy of steps taken to impl ement the "Comprehensi ve Smoki ng Educati on Act. " I n th i s regard, I am part_icularly interested in the Federal Trade Commmission's progress i n rev iew ing warni ng i abei rotational pi ans submitted by cigarette manufacturers which conform to the advertising and packaging requiremen s of this new law. To assi st the Subcomm ittee i n th i s matter, I woui d appreci ate receiv i ng copi es of ai l memorandums between Comm i ssi on staff and the Comm issi on regardi ng negoti ati ons w ith ci garette manuf acturers or thei r representatives respecti ng the rev iew and approval of warning label rotation plans. This material should i ncl ude copi es of ai i rotati ona l pl ans, i ncl udi ng drafts, wh i ch Comm i ssi on members or Comm i ssi on staff have rev i ewed. I wou l d a l so l i ke to take th i s opportun i ty to r ai se a rei ated matter. It has been brought to the Subcommittee's attenti on that some ci garette i ndustry representatives have expressed concerns about the potential iy burdensome impact of rotati ng each of the four new warni ng l abel s every three months as requi red by Secti on 4(c) of the Federal Ci garette i_abel i i ng and Adverti si ng Act (FCLAA). As you know, the Congress was qui te specif ic i n drafti ng Section 4 of the FCLAA to 1 imit the Comm i ssi on's di screti on i n approv i ng rotati onal pi ans. Al though I woui d have preferred the statute be more f i exi bie, Publ ic Law 98-474 ci eariy requi res onl y one schedu l e: each warni ng l abel appeari ng on the adverti si ng and packagi ng of a ci garette brand is to be rotated "quarterly in alternating sequence." TIMN 0013808

' I am i nterested i n your thoughts on th i s matter and woul d be wil l Ing to consider legislation providing the Commission authori ty to approve rotati on pl ans which prov ide for rotati on of the ci garette heal th warni ngs on a more f l exi bl e ba'si s. If you bei ieve increased administrative flexibil ity would further the purposes of the l egi sl ati on or enhance your agency's enf orcement activ itt es, I woul d be pl eased to work w ith you on th i s matter. With every good w ish, I am, S i ncerel y, HENRY A. WAXMAN Chai rman Subcommittee on Health and the Env i ronment HAW:rfm TIMN 0013809