Jump to full article: Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch, 2009-06-12
Author: JOHN REID BLACKWELL TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Intro: Many details of the FDA's implementation of the new regulations still are to be determined, setting up a potential ongoing battle between supporters and opponents of tougher restrictions on the industry.
"The devil is going to be in the details," said Gerry Roerty, vice president and general counsel at Swedish Match North America, a Chesterfield County-based maker of smokeless tobacco and cigars.
Roerty said the company was "comforted" that the FDA legislation, while cracking down further on some advertising, still leaves room for the company to market its products by providing samples to adults at venues where minors are not allowed.
Other issues, such as setting product-manufacturing standards, could be more tricky.
"If [the FDA] takes a sensible approach and sticks to the language that is in the bill that says they must adopt technologically feasible standards, then that is something we will be able to work with," he said. . . .
Philip Morris' parent company, Altria Group Inc., said yesterday that the legislation is, on balance, "an important step forward to achieve the goal we share with others to provide federal regulation of tobacco products."
However, the company said the bill "is not perfect" and that it had First Amendment concerns about some of the restrictions. The company declined further comment.
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