Tell Congress: Fix the FDA Before the System Shatters

Fix the FDA before the system shatters. It's a bad idea to add tobacco regulation to the FDA's plate.

The FDA is in crisis and cannot fulfill its current mission. We shouldn't be adding more responsibilities to their plate.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is supposed to protect our health, food safety, medicines and medical devices. But its own scientific experts say that the Agency can't do its current job properly. Among numerous problems, they point out that the Agency's scientific base and scientific structural organization is weak, its workforce does not have sufficient capacity and capability, and its information technology infrastructure is inadequate. These independent experts warn that FDA's failings put American lives at risk.

“The FDA cannot fulfill its mission ... American lives are at risk.”
- FDA Science Board Report, November 2007

Despite the crisis at the FDA, some in Congress want to add to the Agency's plate, proposing more than $7 billion in new taxes and fees to fund new FDA tobacco regulations when numerous other federal and state agencies already are working to reduce tobacco use.

Even the head of the FDA has concerns about the idea.

Tell Congress not to add tobacco regulation to the FDA's plate. Fix the system before it shatters.

Paid for by Reynolds American Inc.