Zeller Assumes Top Post at Center for Tobacco Products

Tobacco industry representatives remain skeptical about Zeller's appointment, noting his previous tobacco-control efforts.

March 05, 2013

WASHINGTON - Mitch Zeller??s tenure as the new director of FDA??s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), the nation??s top tobacco regulator post, will be marked by fundamental change in tobacco regulation, the Washington Post reports.

Among the issues facing Zeller as he assumed his position on Monday:

  • The CTP is expected to release a decision this year on whether to ban menthol cigarettes, which have remained controversial among public health advocates and industry officials.
  • A backlog of 3,500 applications from tobacco companies for new products and changes to existing ones that will no doubt be affected by the menthol ruling.
  • Additionally, the Center is developing a substantial anti-smoking campaign that targets young people and specific demographic groups, such as African Americans, Native Americans and Hispanics.
  • Legal battles persist over whether FDA can compel cigarette manufacturers to put graphic warning labels on their packages.

Tobacco industry representatives are skeptical about Zeller??s appointment, noting that he spent significant time at the FDA spearheading its tobacco-control efforts.

"Somebody from a tobacco control background, you want to understand whether they??re going to regulate the industry in a reasonable way or not," said attorney Bryan Haynes, whose firm Troutman Sanders represents several tobacco companies.

Meanwhile, tobacco control advocates are welcoming Zeller for his history of tobacco-control work as well as his experience navigating FDA bureaucracy.

"He understands the agency. He??s absolutely dedicated to using the agency??s authority aggressively. He??s knowledgeable about tobacco products and tobacco marketing, and he??s well-respected in the public health community," said Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, adding, "[He] has an opportunity to bring about important and fundamental change."

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