The US Food and Drug Administration has a battle on its hands over its
attempt to regulate tobacco just as it regulates other drugs. The agency is now
appealing to the Supreme Court, following an appeals court decision that denied
it the right to regulate tobacco products.
As the hearing opened last week, judges appeared sceptical that an agency
that regulates pharmaceuticals should turn its attention to tobacco. 鈥淚s it the
position of the government that tobacco is safe and effective? It just doesn鈥檛
fit,鈥� said Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O鈥機onnor. A final decision on the
case is not expected for several months.