Other Announcements

General

New CDC Office on Smoking and Health mobile site
The CDC Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) has launched a new mobile site. The simple website is readily accessible to mobile phone users, and contains facts about smoking and tobacco use, information on action steps that can be taken to address the problem of tobacco use, a listing of smoking cessation resources, and links to the OSH social media pages. Click here to view the site.

2012-2013 Youth Activism Fellowship
The Legacy Youth Activism Fellowship is an 18-month national leadership development program for young adults between the ages of 18 and 24. The fellowship combines leadership training, mentorship, technical assistance and community engagement to advance the efforts of local tobacco control. Throughout the program, fellows will get to visit different parts of the country, learn from nationally recognized leaders, receive technical support for local projects and network with other youth activists from around the nation. Click here to learn more about the fellowship and click here to apply.

AAP Richmond Center launches new and improved website
The American Academy of Pediatrics Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence has launched a new website. The new site contains information about many tobacco-related topics, and has been expanded to meet the needs of a variety of audiences, including clinicians, researchers, community-level advocates, educators, parents, and children. Click here to go to the website.

New fact sheet on menthol from the California Tobacco Control Program
This fact sheet provides facts on what menthol is, who smokes menthol cigarettes, why menthol is added to cigarettes, predatory tobacco industry marketing, why menthol products matter to the African American community, the effects of menthol on cessation, and FDA regulation of menthol in cigarettes and other tobacco products under consideration. This fact sheet would be useful for local projects working to adopt resolutions supporting FDA regulations on the use of menthol in cigarettes and raise awareness and educate the public about the impact of menthol. Access the fact sheet by clicking here.

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FDA Announcements

FDA seeks comments from the public on draft guidance for premarket tobacco product applications
The FDA Center for Tobacco Products has posted a draft guidance to help persons submitting applications for new tobacco products understand the premarket tobacco product application process. The draft guidance addresses questions such as: Who may submit a new tobacco product application, when to submit a new tobacco product application, what information is required to be submitted in a new tobacco product application, and what information FDA recommends be submitted in a new tobacco product application. The public comment period is open through December 27, 2011. The draft guidance can be found here. Click here to submit a comment, or go to regulations.gov and search for Docket # FDA-2011-D-0212.

FDA posts Small Entity Compliance Guide
FDA has posted a guidance titled “Small Entity Compliance Guide” intended to help small businesses understand and comply with FDA’s regulations regarding the required warnings on cigarette packages and in cigarette advertisements. The guidance addresses questions such as: how required warnings must appear on packages and in cigarette advertisements, including size and location, rotation and irremovable or permanent warnings; how to obtain and utilize electronic files for the required warnings; which language warnings must appear on packages and advertisements; and how to reference a smoking cessation assistance resource in all required warnings. The guidance can be found here.

New FDA CTP tobacco compliance webinar series
The FDA CTP is hosting a series of webinars on federal tobacco regulations designed to provide FDA tobacco compliance education and information to retailers and small businesses. The next webinar will take place on November 1, and will address the recently-released Draft Guidance for Industry Applications for Premarket Review of New Tobacco Products. Another session on November 15 will address the Civil Money Penalty Process. Click here to view materials and recordings from past sessions and to learn about future webinars.

Update on FDA tobacco retail inspection contracts
As of October 21, FDA has awarded contracts to 39 states for the inspection of tobacco retail establishments in the coming year. These contracts assist states with inspection of retail establishments and other enforcement activities to help enforce the Youth Access and Advertising Regulations. Click here to view a listing of funded agencies.

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