Title 15Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73

§1341 Smoking, research, education and information

Title 15 › Chapter CHAPTER 36— - CIGARETTE LABELING AND ADVERTISING › § 1341

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Set up and run a program to tell the public about health dangers from cigarette smoking. The Secretary must do research on smoking and health and make public materials about the results. The Secretary must coordinate smoking-related research and education inside the Department of Health and Human Services and work with other federal, state, local, and private groups. The Secretary must gather, study, and share information and standards, keep track of State and local cigarette laws, and do any other research or information work needed. The law creates an Interagency Committee on Smoking and Health to help coordinate these efforts. The Committee includes people from HHS institutes, at least one member each from the Federal Trade Commission, the Departments of Education and Labor and any other federal agency the Secretary names (those agencies pick their own members), and five private physicians or scientists chosen by the Secretary. Committee members can get travel pay and daily allowances when away from home, and the Secretary must give the Committee staff and other help. The Secretary must send a report to Congress by January 1, 1986, and every two years after that, with an overview of federal efforts and public knowledge, a description of activities, information on private-sector actions, and any recommendations. Secretary — the head of the Department of Health and Human Services. Interagency Committee on Smoking and Health — a group that coordinates smoking-related research and education across agencies.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §1341

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of Health and Human Services (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Secretary”) shall establish and carry out a program to inform the public of any dangers to human health presented by cigarette smoking. In carrying out such program, the Secretary shall—
(1)conduct and support research on the effect of cigarette smoking on human health and develop materials for informing the public of such effect;
(2)coordinate all research and educational programs and other activities within the Department of Health and Human Services (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Department”) which relate to the effect of cigarette smoking on human health and coordinate, through the Interagency Committee on Smoking and Health (established under subsection (b)), such activities with similar activities of other Federal agencies and of private agencies;
(3)establish and maintain a liaison with appropriate private entities, other Federal agencies, and State and local public agencies respecting activities relating to the effect of cigarette smoking on human health;
(4)collect, analyze, and disseminate (through publications, bibliographies, and otherwise) information, studies, and other data relating to the effect of cigarette smoking on human health, and develop standards, criteria, and methodologies for improved information programs related to smoking and health;
(5)compile and make available information on State and local laws relating to the use and consumption of cigarettes; and
(6)undertake any other additional information and research activities which the Secretary determines necessary and appropriate to carry out this section.
(b)(1)To carry out the activities described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (a) there is established an Interagency Committee on Smoking and Health. The Committee shall be composed of—
(A)members appointed by the Secretary from appropriate institutes and agencies of the Department, which may include the National Cancer Institute, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
(B)at least one member appointed from the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, and any other Federal agency designated by the Secretary, the appointment of whom shall be made by the head of the entity from which the member is appointed; and
(C)five members appointed by the Secretary from physicians and scientists who represent private entities involved in informing the public about the health effects of smoking.
(2)While away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Committee, members of the Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistance,11 So in original. Probably should be “subsistence,”. in the manner provided by section 5702 and 5703 of title 5.
(3)The Secretary shall make available to the Committee such staff, information, and other assistance as it may require to carry out its activities effectively.
(c)The Secretary shall transmit a report to Congress not later than January 1, 1986, and biennially thereafter which shall contain—
(1)an overview and assessment of Federal activities undertaken to inform the public of the health consequences of smoking and the extent of public knowledge of such consequences,
(2)a description of the Secretary’s and Committee’s activities under subsection (a),
(3)information regarding the activities of the private sector taken in response to the effects of smoking on health, and
(4)such recommendations as the Secretary may consider appropriate.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the Comprehensive Smoking Education Act, and not as part of the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act which comprises this chapter.

Amendments

2007—Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 110–154 substituted “Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development” for “National Institute of Child Health and Human Development”. 1992—Subsec. (b)(1)(A), Pub. L. 102–531 substituted “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” for “Centers for Disease Control”. 1985—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–92 substituted “1986” for “1985”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 1341

Title 15Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73