Other Announcements

General

HHS launches 5-year "Million Hearts" campaign to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes
On September 13, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched the Million Hearts campaign, a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years by improving access to quality healthcare, focusing clinical attention on heart attack and stroke prevention, and raising awareness about healthy lifestyles - including smoking cessation. The website for the initiative contains information about how individuals, healthcare providers, hospitals and healthcare organizations, pharmacies and pharmacists, community-based organizations, and employers can support the campaign and "Be One in A Million Hearts" to bring about a positive change. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are the co-leaders of Million Hearts within HHS, working alongside other federal agencies and other private-sector partners. Learn more about the program by clicking here.

Community Transformation grant awards announced
As an initiative of the Affordable Care Act, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded $103 million in Community Transformation Grant funding to 61 states and communities to support health and wellness efforts throughout the country. The funded states and communities will address three priority areas: 1) tobacco-free living; 2) active living and healthy eating; and 3) evidence-based quality clinical and other preventive services. Also announced in September were the recipients of funding awards for the National Dissemination and Support Initiative. The national organizations receiving these grants will support the implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of evidence-based community preventive health activities aimed at reducing chronic diseases, preventing the development of secondary conditions, and addressing health disparities. Read a press release from HHS about the Community Transformation Grant Program here. Click here to see which states and communities received funding, or click here to see a listing of the national Dissemination and Acceleration grant recipients.

top

FDA Announcements

New postings to the Federal Register: FDA requests comments from the public
The FDA Center for Tobacco Products is seeking comments from the public on two new Draft Guidance documents and an Advance Notice of Proposed Rule-Making. Anyone may respond to these dockets with information to guide the FDA’s implementation of regulations under the Tobacco Control Act. To submit a comment on any of these dockets, visit regulations.gov, and search for the docket number of interest. Click here to learn more about the rulemaking process.

• The Draft Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff Demonstrating the Substantial Equivalence of a New Tobacco Product: Responses to Frequently Asked Questions provides information in response to frequently asked questions that the Center for Tobacco Products received from manufacturers and other interested stakeholders on demonstrating the substantial equivalence of a new tobacco product. FDA is accepting comments on this proposed rule through November 8, 2011. Docket No. FDA-2011-D-0147. More information is also available on FDA-CTP’s Substantial Equivalence webpage.
   
• The Draft Guidance for Industry Submission of Warning Plans for Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco Products is intended to assist persons submitting warning plans for cigarettes and warning plans for smokeless tobacco products. Comments must be submitted by November 8, 2011. Docket No. FDA-2011-D-0480.
   
• The Advance Notice of Proposed Rule-Making (ANPRM): Non-Face-to-Face Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products and Advertising, Promotion, and Marketing of Tobacco Products was issued to obtain information related to the regulation of non-face-to face sale and distribution of tobacco products and the advertising, promotion, and marketing of tobacco products (e.g. sales by internet, email, direct mail, telephone, etc.). Comments are being accepted through December 8, 2011. Docket No. FDA–2011–N–0467.

Communication tools on Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) webpage
Visit the FDA Center for Tobacco Products’ Connect with Us webpage for digital communication tools to help stakeholders learn about the latest federal tobacco rules and help CTP spread the word to retailers on how to “Break the Chain of Tobacco Addiction” using various social media outlets.

New materials available on CTP website from recent Stakeholder Discussion sessions
Materials from the recent FDA Center for Tobacco Products Stakeholder Discussion Series sessions with Public Health Advocates and American Indians/Alaska Natives are now available on the CTP website. The last currently scheduled Stakeholder Discussion Series session will take place on October 20 with the Research Community in Rockville, MD. The goal of the Stakeholder Discussion Series is to establish a two-way dialogue between CTP officials and important stakeholders. Click here to learn more about the Stakeholder Discussion Series.

top

Back to Table of Contents