[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 16 (Friday, January 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3704-3705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1718]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
[Docket No. 95N-253M]
Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco; Notice of Public Meetings
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that it
will hold 10 public meetings to promote understanding of, and encourage
proper compliance with, FDA's final regulations restricting the sale
and distribution of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to protect
children and adolescents. The meetings will focus on those provisions
of the final rule that will take effect February 28, 1997 (see the
``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION'' section in this document). FDA officials
will be present at these meetings to explain the new regulations, and
will be available to answer questions.
DATES: See Table 1 in the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION'' section of this
document.
ADDRESSES: See Table 1 in the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION'' section of
this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: See Table 1 in the ``SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION'' section of this document.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Federal Register of August 28, 1996
(61 FR 44396), FDA published a final rule to restrict the sale and
distribution of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in order to protect
children and adolescents. These regulations address the serious public
health problem caused by cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products. The
goal of the final rule is to reduce children's and adolescents' easy
access to cigarettes and smokeless tobacco and to decrease
significantly the amount of positive imagery that makes these products
so appealing to children.
The provisions in the final rule have different effective dates.
Starting February 28, 1997, Federal regulations will prohibit retailers
from selling cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, or smokeless tobacco to any
person under the age of 18, and will require retailers to check the
photographic identification of every person under the age of 27 who
wishes to purchase such a product to verify that the purchaser is at
least 18 years old. Under the current schedule, starting August 28,
1997, the remaining provisions of the rule will become effective,
except for the sponsorship provision, which will become effective on
August 28, 1998.
The meetings will be held at the addresses and on the dates listed
in Table 1 and are scheduled to last 1 hour.
There is no charge to attend these meetings. Advance registration
is requested because seating is limited. The deadline for registering
is 1 week before each meeting. Registration will be accepted so long as
space is available. Late registration will be accepted only if space is
available. Persons interested in attending should mail or telephone
their name, organization, address, and telephone number to FDA's
contact persons listed in Table 1 for each meeting location.
TABLE 1
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Meeting Address Date and Local Time FDA Contact Person
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BALTIMORE: Baltimore Sheraton February 11, 1997, Leonard Genova,
Inner Harbor Hotel, 300 South Tuesday 11 a.m. to 900 Madison Ave.,
Charles St., Baltimore, MD. 12 m. Baltimore, MD,
21201, 410-962-
3731
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BOSTON: Park Plaza Hotel, Plaza February 11, 1997, Paula Fairfield,
Ballroom, 64 Arlington St., Tuesday 10 a.m. to One Montvale
Boston, MA. 11 a.m. Ave., Stoneham,
MA, 02810, 617-
279-1675, ext.
184
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DETROIT: Harper Hospital, 3990 February 12, 1997, Evelyn DeNike,
John Rd., Detroit, MI. Wednesday 1:30 1560 East
p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jefferson,
Detroit, MI,
48207, 313-226-
6158
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[[Page 3705]]
CHICAGO: Marriott Hotel, 8535 February 13, 1997, Darlene Bailey,
West Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL. Thursday 1 p.m. to 300 South
2 p.m. Riverside Plaza,
suite 550 South,
Chicago, IL,
60606, 312-353-
7126
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BOULDER: National Institute of February 19, 1997, Virlie Walker,
Standards and Technology, 325 Wednesday 10 a.m. P.O. Box 25087,
Broadway, Boulder, CO. to 11 a.m. Denver Federal
Center, Denver,
CO, 80225-0087,
303-236-3018
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MIAMI: Crown Plaza Miami, 1601 February 19, 1997, Estela Niella-
Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL. Wednesday 10:30 Brown, P.O. Box
a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 59-2256, Miami,
FL, 33159-2256,
305-526-2800,
ext. 937
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ATLANTA: Sheraton Colony February 20, 1997, Sheila Bayne-Lisby
Square, 188 14th St. NE., Thursday 10 a.m. (ext. 5231) and
Atlanta, GA. to 11 a.m. Jo Ann Pittman
(ext. 5340), 60
Eighth St. NE.,
Atlanta, GA,
30309, 404-347-
4001
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HOUSTON: Holiday Inn/Hobby February 20, 1997, Sheryl Lunnon
Airport, 9100 Gulf Freeway, Thursday 10:30 Baylor, 1445
Houston, TX. a.m. to 11:30 a.m. North Loop West,
suite 420,
Houston, TX,
77008, 713-802-
9095, ext. 15
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LOS ANGELES: Omni Los Angeles February 25, 1997, Rosario Vior,
Hotel, 930 Wilshire Blvd., Los Tuesday 11 a.m. to 19900 MacArthur
Angeles, CA. 12 m. Blvd., suite 300,
Irvine, CA, 92612-
2445, 714-798-
7607
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SEATTLE: Lopez Room at Seattle February 26, 1997, Susan Hutchcroft,
Center, 305 Harrison St., Wednesday 11 a.m. 22201 23rd Dr.
Seattle, WA. to 12 m. SE., Bothell, WA,
98041, 206-486-
8788
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Dated: January 17, 1997.
William K. Hubbard,
Associate Commissioner for Policy Coordination.
[FR Doc. 97-1718 Filed 1-21-97; 3:06 pm]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F