[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