Reports and guidance documents; availability, etc.: Tar, Nicotine, and Carbon Monoxide of the Smoke of 1262 varieties of domestic cigarettes for 1996 and 1997,

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Federal Register: September 30, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 189)NoticesPage 52791From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr30se99-82

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

Report of the ``Tar,'' Nicotine, and Carbon Monoxide of the Smoke of 1262 Varieties of Domestic Cigarettes for the Year 1996 and Report of the ``Tar,'' Nicotine, and Carbon Monoxide of the Smoke of 1252 Varieties of Domestic Cigarettes for the Year 1997

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission publishes the ``Report of the `Tar,' Nicotine, and Carbon Monoxide of the Smoke of 1262 Varieties of Domestic Cigarettes for the Year 1996'' and the ``Report of the `Tar,' Nicotine, and Carbon Monoxide of the Smoke of 1252 Varieties of Domestic Cigarettes for the Year 1997.''

DATES: September 30, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the reports are available from the FTC's World Wide Web site at: http://www.ftc.gov and from the FTC's Public Reference Branch, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20580. Telephone (202) 326-3128.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Ostheimer, Staff Attorney Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20580. Telephone (202) 326-2699.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These reports contain data on the ``tar,'' nicotine and carbon monoxide yields of 1262 varieties of cigarettes manufactured and sold in the United States in 1996, and of 1252 varieties sold in 1997. The Tobacco Institute Testing Laboratory (TITL), a private laboratory operated by the cigarette industry, conducted the ``tar,'' nicotine, and carbon monoxide testing for the widely-available domestic cigarette varieties. This testing was conducted under the review of a representative of the FTC through periodic unannounced inspections. TITL provided the results to the respective cigarette companies, which then provided the data generated by TITL regarding their own brands to the Commission in response to compulsory process. Cigarette smoke from generic, private label, and not-widely-available cigarettes was not tested by TITL, but was tested by the cigarette companies and the test results were provided to the FTC in response to compulsory process.

In response to concerns that have been raised regarding the accuracy and utility of the testing method currently used to determine the ``tar,'' nicotine, and carbon monoxide ratings of cigarettes, the Commission in 1998 requested the assistance of the Department of Health and Human Services in reviewing the scientific and public health questions surrounding the test method and, if appropriate, determining how the test method should be changed. In its July 1999 ``Report to Congress for 1997, Pursuant to the Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act,'' the Commission recommended that Congress consider giving authority over cigarette testing to one of the Federal government's science-based, public health agencies.

By direction of the Commission. Donald S. Clark, Secretary.

FR Doc. 99-25417Filed9-29-99; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 6750-01-M

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