Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee Purpose

The Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) advises the Commissioner or designee in discharging responsibilities as they relate to the regulation of tobacco products.
The Committee reviews and evaluates safety, dependence, and health issues relating to tobacco products and provides appropriate advice, information and recommendations to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.
Specifically, the Committee will submit reports or recommendations on tobacco-related topics, including:

• The impact of the use of menthol in cigarettes on the public health, including such use among children, African Americans, Hispanics and other racial and ethnic minorities
• The nature and impact of the use of dissolvable tobacco products on the public health, including such use on children
• The effects of the alteration of nicotine yields from tobacco products and whether there is a threshold level below which nicotine yields do not produce dependence on the tobacco product involved
• Any application submitted by a manufacturer for a modified risk tobacco product

The Committee may provide recommendations to the Secretary regarding any regulations to be promulgated under the act and may review any applications for new tobacco products or petitions for exemption under Section 906(e) of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.  The Committee may consider and provide recommendations on any other matter as provided in the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

Committee Membership

The Committee shall consist of 12 members including the Chair.  Members and the Chair are selected by the Commissioner or designee from among individuals knowledgeable in the fields of medicine, medical ethics, science, or technology involving the manufacture, evaluation, or use of tobacco products.  Members will be invited to serve for overlapping terms of up to fours years.  Almost all non-Federal members of this committee serve as Special Government Employees.  The Committee shall include nine technically qualified voting members, selected by the Commissioner or designee.  The nine voting members shall be physicians, dentists, scientists, or health care professionals practicing in the area of oncology, pulmonology, cardiology, toxicology, pharmacology, addiction, or any other relevant specialty.  One member shall be an officer or employee of a state or local government or of the Federal Government.  The final voting member shall be a representative of the general public.  In addition to the voting members, the Committee shall include 3 non-voting members who are identified with industry interests.  These members shall include one representative of the tobacco manufacturing industry, one representative of the interests of tobacco growers, and one representative of the interests of the small business tobacco manufacturing industry.  This final position can be filled on a rotating, sequential basis by representatives of different small business tobacco manufacturers based on areas of expertise relevant to the topics being considered by the committee.