WASHINGTON, Aug 19 (Reuters) - A former official at the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's tobacco center, the agency said on Wednesday in launching the new unit.
Lawrence Deyton, who led public health programs at the veterans' department as its chief public health and environmental hazards officer, helped boost efforts to curb smoking among military veterans, the FDA said.
Deyton, a George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences professor, also previously worked at the National Institutes of Health.
The FDA tobacco center, established by law in June, is charged with regulating cigarettes and other tobacco products and will oversee their manufacturing and marketing.
Makers include Altria Group Inc's Philip Morris unit, Reynolds American Inc's R.J. Reynolds' Tobacco unit, Lorillard Inc's Lorillard Tobacco Co. and Star Scientific Inc.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; editing by Gunna Dickson) Keywords: TOBACCO FDA/ (sheavey@thomsonreuters.com, Phone: 202-354-5848) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's tobacco center, the agency said on Wednesday in launching the new unit.
Lawrence Deyton, who led public health programs at the veterans' department as its chief public health and environmental hazards officer, helped boost efforts to curb smoking among military veterans, the FDA said.
Deyton, a George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences professor, also previously worked at the National Institutes of Health.
The FDA tobacco center, established by law in June, is charged with regulating cigarettes and other tobacco products and will oversee their manufacturing and marketing.
Makers include Altria Group Inc's Philip Morris unit, Reynolds American Inc's R.J. Reynolds' Tobacco unit, Lorillard Inc's Lorillard Tobacco Co. and Star Scientific Inc.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; editing by Gunna Dickson) Keywords: TOBACCO FDA/ (sheavey@thomsonreuters.com, Phone: 202-354-5848) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.