For Your Information:
July 7, 2000 The Federal Trade Commission made public today the results
of "tar," nicotine and carbon monoxide testing for 1,294 varieties of domestic
cigarettes sold in 1998. The report, titled "Tar, Nicotine, and Carbon Monoxide of
the Smoke of 1,294 Varieties of Domestic Cigarettes For the Year 1998" (the T&N
Report), will appear in the Federal Register shortly. The Commission has reported
"tar" and nicotine test results since 1967.
The Tobacco Institute Testing Laboratory (TITL), which has since been renamed the
Tobacco Industry Testing Laboratory, conducted most of the tests. The T&N Report also
includes "tar," nicotine, and carbon monoxide ratings for generic and private
label cigarettes and cigarettes that are not widely available; these varieties were tested
by their manufacturers (not by TITL) using the same methodology, processes and test
procedures as TITL used. In all cases, the results were supplied to the Commission by the
individual companies under compulsory process.
The ratings published in the report reflect the relative yields of different cigarettes
when they are smoked by a machine under identical conditions. They are not intended to
reflect what any individual consumer would get from any particular cigarette. Research
indicates that many smokers of cigarettes with lower ratings "compensate" by
taking larger puffs or more frequent puffs from those cigarettes. A smoker can also
"compensate" by blocking tiny ventilation holes in cigarette filters that are
designed to dilute smoke with air. Compensatory smoking behavior can significantly affect
the amount of "tar," nicotine, and carbon monoxide a smoker gets from any
cigarette -- smokers of cigarette brands with lower "tar" and nicotine ratings
may get as much "tar" and nicotine as smokers of much higher rated brands.
Given the limitations of the current system, the FTC requested that the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) conduct a complete review of the FTC's cigarette testing
methodology. That review is currently underway. In addition, in its two most recent
cigarette reports, the Commission recommended that Congress consider giving authority over
cigarette testing to one of the Federal government's science-based public health agencies.
Copies of the
news release, the "Federal Trade Commission Report of the Tar, Nicotine, and Carbon
Monoxide of the Smoke of 1,294 Varieties of Domestic Cigarettes for the Year 1998"
are available from the FTC's web site at http://www.ftc.gov
and also from the FTC's Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20580; 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357); TDD for the hearing impaired
1-866-653-4261. To find out the latest news as it is announced, call the FTC NewsPhone
recording at 202-326-2710.
- MEDIA CONTACT:
- Brenda Mack
- Office of Public Affairs
- 202-326-2182
-
- STAFF CONTACT:
- Michael Ostheimer
- Bureau of Consumer Protection
- 202-326-2699
(FTC File No. 992 3169)
(http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2000/07/t&n2000.htm) |
Related
Documents: "Tar,"
Nicotine, and Carbon Monoxide of the Smoke of 1294 Varieties of Domestic Cigarettes For
the Year 1998: A Federal Trade Commission Report to Congress (July 2000)
- Text of the Report [PDF 243K] [WP 1.3M]
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