The U.S. Senate passed the Family Smoking Protection and Tobacco Control Act today by a vote of 79 to 17. The new legislation gives the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate the manufacture, distribution, sale, labeling, advertising and promotion of tobacco products to protect the public health. Senator Tim Johnson, (D) South Dakota, co-sponsored and voted for the legislation; Senator John Thune, (R) South Dakota, voted for it as well.

Hazardous products such as rat poison, hydrogen cyanide, formaldehyde, benzene and ammonia have all been found in cigarettes.
These toxins are individually regulated by the FDA, but, when contained in cigarettes, they are exempt from oversight.
The legislation will give the FDA the power to regulate ingredients in tobacco products, ban fruit or candy-flavored cigarettes, ban use of ”light,” “low-tar” and “mild” labels on cigarette advertisements and require stronger, more specific health warning labels and full disclosure of all ingredients contained in a pack of cigarettes.