How FDA could affect leaf production

More from the annual meeting of Burley Stabilization Corporation:

            

Arnold Hamm, the grower representative on the Food and Drug Administration’ s tobacco advisory committee, told the cooperative that the Family Smoking Prevention and Control Act of 2009 was designed to decrease tobacco product consumption, and less consumption of tobacco products will mean less tobacco produced.

Some of that will be as a result of an unintended consequence. “Harsh regulations [if implemented] would increase demand for contraband tobacco products,” said Hamm. “Contraband tobacco products are unlikely to contain American tobacco.”

Another unintended consequence: Regulations limiting or prohibiting the level of some tobacco smoke constituents might cause a shift in where tobacco is grown and what kinds of tobacco can be used. “Manufacturers would be obliged to source tobacco that helps meet regulatory requirements, wherever they have to look,” he said.

For more on Hamm's presentation, see Tobacco Farmer Newsletter Update later this week.