The Bush administration's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief this week strongly criticized a bill that would give his agency the power to regulate tobacco products, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Oct. 4.

FDA commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach failed to appear at a House hearing on the bill but submitted testimony outlining the administration's opposition to the measure. "We are concerned that the public will believe that products 'approved' by the agency are safe and that this will actually encourage individuals to smoke more rather than less," von Eschenbach wrote. He also expressed concern that Congress will not give FDA enough money to support tobacco regulation, that the job might be too hard, and that it could undermine the FDA's mission.

Witnesses who did appear, however, disagreed with von Eschenbach's assessment, saying that the FDA is the agency best suited to regulate tobacco products. Professor Richard J. Bonnie of the University of Virginia said the agency has both scientific and regulatory experience needed for the role. William V. Corr, executive director of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said the FDA would have the power to stop tobacco companies from issuing misleading statements about their products.