House panel backs FDA tobacco regulation

WASHINGTON, April 3 (UPI) -- A U.S. House committee has given overwhelming approval to a bill allowing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco.

The legislation would allow the FDA to monitor cigarette labeling, ban flavored cigarettes and oversee certain ads. It could not outlaw cigarettes, however.

The project would set up a tobacco oversight office at the FDA and would be funded by industry user fees.

The bill has 220 backers in the House and 55 co-sponsors in the Senate, but it could face a presidential veto this year, the Wall Street Journal said.

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