[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 10, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18640-18641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8828]


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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION


Cigarette and Smokeless Tobacco Reports; Request for Public 
Comment

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') is 
soliciting comments to help it determine whether to continue to issue 
reports on the sales, advertising and promotion of cigarettes and 
smokeless tobacco products, as well as the formats for any such 
reports.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before June 11, 2001.

[[Page 18641]]


ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the Office of the Secretary, Federal 
Trade Commission, Room 159, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 
20580. Five paper copies of each written comments should be submitted. 
All comments also should be submitted, if possible, in electronic form, 
on a 3\1/2\ inch personal computer diskette, with a label on the 
diskette stating the name of the commenter and the name and version of 
the word processing program used to create the document. Windows-based 
programs are preferred. Files from other operating systems should be 
submitted in ASCII text format. Individuals filing comments need not 
submit multiple copies or comments in electronic form. Comments 
alternatively may be submitted by electronic mail (e-mail) to 
Cigarette&Smokeless Tobacco [email protected]. Submissions should be 
identified as ``Cigarette and Smokeless Tobacco Reports.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Ostheimer, Division of 
Advertising Practices, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580, (202) 326-2699.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FTC has issued statutorily required 
reports to Congress on domestic sales and advertising and promotion 
expenditures for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products.\1\ The 
aggregate sales and marketing data in these reports are based on data 
submitted to the Commission pursuant to compulsory process by the 
largest cigarette and smokeless tobacco manufacturers in the United 
States.
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    \1\ Beginning in 1967, the Commission submitted annual reports 
to Congress on cigarettes pursuant to the Federal Cigarette Labeling 
and Advertising Act. 15 U.S.C. 1331, et seq. Beginning in 1986, the 
Commission submitted biennially to Congress reports on smokeless 
tobacco pursuant to the Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health 
Education Act. 15 U.S.C. 4401, et seq.
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    The Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995 terminated 
many mandatory reporting requirements, and allows agencies to assess 
the need for such reports.\2\ Accordingly, the Commission is seeking 
public comment on whether it should continue to issue reports on the 
cigarette and smokeless tobacco industries and what forms any such 
reports should take.
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    \2\ Pub. L. 104-66, section 3003(a)(1), 109 Stat. 734.
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    The Commission is seeking comments on the following questions:
    1. Who uses the cigarette and smokeless tobacco reports? For what 
purposes do they use them?
    2. What are the costs to the industries to provide the Commission 
with the date included in the cigarette and smokeless tobacco reports?
    3. Should the Commission continue to collect and publish data 
regarding cigarette and smokeless tobacco sales, advertising and 
promotion? Why or why not?
    4. What data or other information contained in the reports are 
useful and should be continued in any future reports? Why? What data or 
other information in previous reports are of little or no use, and 
could be omitted in future reports? Why?
    5. Is there information about cigarette and smokeless tobacco 
sales, advertising and promotion that has not been included in the 
reports, but that would be of use? If so, what additional information 
would be of use, and why would it be useful?
    6. If the Commission decides to continue issuing reports, how 
frequently should they be issued (e.g., annually, biennually)? Why?
    7. What other information should the Commission consider in 
deciding whether to continue reporting on the sales and advertising and 
promotion of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products. If the 
Commission decides to issue future reports, what formats would be 
useful?

By direction of the Commission.
Benjamin I. Berman,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-8828 Filed 4-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M