Tobacco Free Gallatin
Everywhere...By Everyone...At all times
Bozeman Public Schools-Gallatin County, MT
Department of Public Health & Human Services Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act
Effective September 22, 2009, the sale of cigarettes with flavors characterizing fruit, candy, or clove is illegal. The ban was authorized by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act signed into law in June 2009.
This ban highlights the importance of reducing the number of children who start to smoke, and is part of a national effort by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce smoking in America, especially among youth.
Studies show that young people are attracted to flavored cigarettes and flavors make the use of tobacco products more appealing to youth.
The FDA is making efforts to enforce the ban and encourages consumers to report continuing sales of flavored cigarettes through a special tobacco hotline (1-877-CTP-1373) and Web site (www.fda.gov/flavoredtobacco).
The new flavoring ban is one of many actions authorized by the law that will protect kids from tobacco addiction, stop tobacco companies from deceiving the public and reduce the death and disease caused by tobacco use. The new law will also:
- Restrict tobacco advertising and promotions, especially to children.
- Stop illegal sales of tobacco products to children.
- Require large, graphic health warnings that cover the top half of the front and back of cigarette packs.
- Ban misleading health claims such as "light" and "low-tar."
- Strictly regulate health claims about tobacco products to ensure they are scientifically proven and do not discourage current tobacco users from quitting or encourage new users to start.
- Require tobacco companies to disclose the contents of tobacco products, as well as changes in products and research about their health effects.
- Empower the FDA to require changes in tobacco products, such as the removal or reduction of harmful ingredients or the reduction of nicotine levels.
- Fully fund the FDA's new tobacco-related responsibilities with a user fee on tobacco companies so no resources are taken from the FDA's current work.
