Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee
The Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) is an advisory panel of the
Structure and mission
TPSAC consists of 12 members, including a chairperson, all of whom are selected by the FDA commissioner from among experts in medicine, medical ethics, science and technology related to the manufacture and use of tobacco products. Nine voting seats are held for academics and practitioners in the field of health care, while three non-voting seats are held for industry representatives. Members serve for overlapping terms of four years.[1] Meetings are held approximately four times per year, with all meetings publicly announced in the Federal Register at least 15 days before each meeting.
The Committee's purpose is to review and evaluate safety, dependence, and health issues relating to tobacco products and to provide appropriate advice, information and recommendations to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs on the following topics:[1]
- The impact of the use of menthol cigaretteson the public health, including use among children, African Americans, Hispanics and other racial and ethnic minorities
- The nature and impact of the use of dissolvable tobacco products on the public health, including use by children
- The effects of the alteration of nicotine levels in tobacco products
- Whether, for any given tobacco product, there is a nicotine level low enough to preclude addiction
- Applications submitted by manufacturers for a Modified risk tobacco product
Membership
- Chair: Jonathan M. Samet, M.D., M.S., Term: 02/16/10 - 1/31/14[5]
- Acting Designated Federal Official: Cristi L. Stark, M.S.[5]
Voting members
- Neal L. Benowitz, M.D. Term: 02/17/10 - 1/31/13 [5]
- Mark Stuart Clanton, M.D., M.P.H. Term: 02/17/10 -1/31/14[5]
- Gregory Niles Connolly, D.M.D., M.P.H. Term: 02/16/10 - 1/31/12[5]
- Karen L. DeLeeuw, M.S.W. Term: 02/16/10 - 1/31/13 [5]
- Dorothy K. Hatsukami, Ph.D. Term: 02/17/10 - 1/31/13 [5]
- Patricia Nez Henderson, M.P.H., M.D.[5]
- Jack E. Henningfield, Ph.D. Term: 02/16/10 - 1/31/12 [5]
- Melanie Wakefield, Ph.D. Term: 02/16/10 - 1/31/14 [5]
Non-voting members
- Luby Arnold Hamm, Jr. Representative of the interests of tobacco growers. Term: 3/22/10 - 1/31/12 [5]
- Jonathan Daniel Heck, Ph.D., DABT Representative of the tobacco manufacturing industry. Term: 3/22/10 - 1/31/14 [5]
- John H. Lauterbach, Ph.D., DABT Representative for the interest of small business tobacco manufacturing industry. Term: 3/22/10 - 1/31/13 [5]
Controversy
On March 1, 2010, the Wall Street Journal reported that proposed committee members Jack Henningfield and Neal L. Benowitz, had served as consultants to
In February 2011,
TPSAC Decision on Menthol Cigarettes
On March 18, 2011 the panel concluded that removing menthol cigarettes from the market would benefit public health in the United States, but stopped short of recommending that the FDA take any specific actions like restricting or banning the additive. A progress report on panel findings is expected in July 2011.[11]
In March 2011, the tobacco industry released a report to the FDA in response to the TPSAC decision claiming menthol cigarettes are no riskier than regular cigarettes and should not be regulated differently.
TPSAC Interactive Public Docket
An Interactive Public Docket on the TPSAC was established to allow interested members of the public to discuss the Committee's work.[14] The IPD includes discussion forums on TPSAC sub-topics including Studies and Concepts Under Review, Member Statements and Committee Governance.
References
- ^ a b c Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) about the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee
- ^ Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee
- ^ Occasional Smoker, 47, Signs Tobacco Bill, Jeff Zeleny, New York Times, June 22, 2009.
- ^ Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee at FDA.gov
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Roster of the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (retrieved April 1, 2010)
- ^ FDA Tobacco Panel Includes Members With Quit-Smoking Ties, Wall Street Journal, David Kesmodel and Jared A. Favole, March 1, 2010.
- ^ FDA lax on conflicts of interest, Boston Globe, March 8, 2010
- ^ ALG Calls On Administration to Dismiss Science Panel Members With Conflicts Archived 2010-06-18 at the Wayback Machine, March 31, 2010.
- ^ Kesmodel, David (5 January 2011). "FDA Tobacco Adviser Resigns". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
- ^ "Lorillard suit accuses FDA panel of bias". The Business Journal. 25 February 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
- ^ a b Wilson, Duff (18 March 2011). "Advisory Panel Urges F.D.A. to Re-examine Menthol in Cigarettes". New York Times. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
- ^ a b c "Lorillard Inc vs. Food and Drug Administration". ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov. United States District Court for the District of Columbia. July 21, 2014. Archived from the original on February 22, 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ "Tobacco makers fight menthol rules". Associated Press. 18 March 2011. Archived from the original on 27 April 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
- ^ TPSAC IPD