Jump to full article: WSOC-TV Channel 9 (Charlotte, NC), 2009-06-22
Author: Megan Hughes
Intro: Monday President Barack Obama signed sweeping new tobacco regulations into law that give the Food and Drug Administration new powers to control what's in cigarettes. The president called it a boon for public health, but what does it mean for North Carolina's top crop?
North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr said there's no question it will hurt the tobacco industry in the long term.
"Whatever transition the industry makes, will probably be a small transition at first, but in the future has a devestating impact on the overall growth of tobacco," Burr said.
. . .
Burr said the hope right now for the North Carolina tobacco farmers lies in growing demand overseas. Already more than half of the state's crop is exported and the new law doesn't have jurisdiction over that market.
"I'm convinced the international market will be as fruitful for North Carolina tobacco farmers as the domestic market has been," said Burr.
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