WASHINGTON, March 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it has issued a final rule design to curb access by juveniles to cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products.
The FDA said the new rule, effective June 22, restricts the sale, distribution and promotion of the products to make them less accessible and less attractive to children and adolescents.
Among other things, the rule that has the force of law:
-- Prohibits the sale of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco to people younger than 18.
-- Prohibits the sale of cigarette packages with fewer than 20 cigarettes and the distribution of free samples of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco.
-- Prohibits tobacco brand name sponsorship of any athletic, musical or other social or cultural event.
-- Prohibits gifts or other items in exchange for buying cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products.
"This ruling is a critical piece of a coordinated effort to save lives, lower costs and reduce suffering from heart disease, cancer and other tobacco-related illness," Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said. "Today, we're addressing a larger public health effort to prevent our children from becoming the next generation of Americans to die early from tobacco-related disease. This is a great step toward a healthier America."
More information is available at http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/ProtectingKidsfromTobacco/RegsRestrictingSale/default.htm.
