The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Tobacco Control Act) is an important piece of legislation with many requirements. FDA has prepared this infographic to help you understand the rationale for and major events associated with the Act.

Disclaimer

This is not a complete summary of the Tobacco Control Act. To understand the full context, you can read the Tobacco Control Act at: www.fda.gov/tobacco.

Contents

Public Health Tobacco Facts for the Tobacco Control Act

Key Events and Tobacco Control Act Milestones

• August - September 2009
• March - April 2010
• June 2010
• October - November 2010
• March - October 2011
• March - April 2012
• April 2013
• April 2015

Tobacco Facts
Image	Event
	20% of deaths in America are the result of smoking (1)
	$193 Billion spent every year for direct medical costs and lost productivity due to smoking related premature deaths in America (2)
	$10.4 billion spent by the U.S. tobacco industry on advertising and promotion in 2008 (4)
	80% of adult smokers begin smoking before the age of 18 (3)
	167 kids try their first cigarette every HOUR (2)

Key Events and Tobacco Control Act (Tobacco Control Act) Milestones
Date	Image	Event
June 22, 2009		President Obama signs the Tobacco Control Act into law
July 2009		FDA initiates the collection of user fees from the tobacco industry
August 2009		FDA establishes the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP)
September 2009		Tobacco Control Act bans cigarettes with characterizing flavor such as fruit and candy
September 2009		FDA appoints first CTP Director, Lawrence R. Deyton, MSPH, MD
March 2010		CTP reissues the "1996 rule" that restricts the sale and distribution of tobacco products to protect youth and promote public health
March 2010		FDA establishes the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC)
April 2010		CTP publishes a final guidance to assist those submitting documents to FDA relating to the health, toxicological, behavioral, or physiologic effects of tobacco products and constituents. Documents submitted will have been produced after June 22, 2009
June 2010		Tobacco Control Act requirements regarding revised warning labels on packages and in advertisements for smokeless tobacco products took effect
June 2010		CTP begins awarding contracts to states designed to support compliance and enforcement activities
June 2010		Products labeled or advertised with misleading terms such as "low," "light," and "mild," or with similar descriptors, are banned under the Act
October 2010		CTP publishes an action plan for enforcing restrictions on the promotion and advertising requirements covering the sale of menthol and other cigarettes to youth - especially in minority communities
June 2011		CTP publishes final regulation that requires graphics illustrating the negative health consequences of smoking. Graphics will accompany 9 new health warning statements that will appear on cigarette packages and in advertisements (under litigation)
July 2011		TPSAC issues a final report on the public health implications of menthol tobacco use to FDA
July 2011		CTP publishes regulations establishing procedures for requesting an exemption from the requirement to establish substantial equivalence
March 2012		TPSAC issues report on the public health impact of dissolvable tobacco products
April 2012		CTP to publish regulations to address the promotion and marketing of tobacco sold or distributed over the Internet, by mail order, or through other non-face-to-face exchanges between a retailer and a consumer
April 2012		CTP to establish a list of harmful and potentially harmful constituents in tobacco products, including smoke constituents, by brand and sub-brand
April 2013		CTP to publish list of harmful and potentially harmful constituents in a format that is understandable and not misleading to the general public
April 2013		CTP to submit report to Congress focusing on FDA's progress and impediments to implementing Tobacco Control Act, the number of applications received for new tobacco and modified risk products, and how many employees are engaged in implementing the Act
April 2013		CTP publishes regulations requiring tobacco manufacturers to test and report harmful and potentially harmful constituents
April 2013		CTP to submit report to Congress focusing on how to regulate, promote and encourage the development of new products and treatments designed to help people quit smoking
April 2013		CTP to submit report to Congress on tobacco exports
April 2015		CTP to submit report to Congress outlining the public heath impact of raising the minimum tobacco purchase age
April 2015		CTP to submit report to Congress outlining how well the public understands the health consequences of using tobacco products with harmful ingredients

Sources:

1. Tobacco Control Act, 2009
2. FDA Year in Review, 2010
3. CDC, Vital Signs, 2010
4. FTC Cigarette Report for 2008
   FTC Smokeless Tobacco Report for 2008