Title 15Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73

§4401 Public education

Title 15 › Chapter CHAPTER 70— - COMPREHENSIVE SMOKELESS TOBACCO HEALTH EDUCATION › § 4401

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Health and Human Services must set up and run a program that tells the public about the health dangers of smokeless tobacco. The Secretary must create education programs, materials, and public service announcements. The Secretary must share these with states, local governments, schools, the media, and others. The Secretary must do and support research and must gather, study, and share information and studies about smokeless tobacco and health. The Secretary must get input from the Secretary of Education, medical and public health groups, consumer groups, representatives of smokeless tobacco makers, and others. The Secretary may give technical help and may make grants to states to help make and spread the education materials. Grants can also help states set 18 as the minimum age to buy smokeless tobacco.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §4401

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish and carry out a program to inform the public of any dangers to human health resulting from the use of smokeless tobacco products. In carrying out such program the Secretary shall—
(A)develop educational programs and materials and public service announcements respecting the dangers to human health from the use of smokeless tobacco;
(B)make such programs, materials, and announcements available to States, local governments, school systems, the media, and such other entities as the Secretary determines appropriate to further the purposes of this chapter;
(C)conduct and support research on the effect of smokeless tobacco on human health; and
(D)collect, analyze, and disseminate information and studies on smokeless tobacco and health.
(2)In developing programs, materials, and announcements under paragraph (1) the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Education, medical and public health entities, consumer groups, representatives of manufacturers of smokeless tobacco products, and other appropriate entities.
(b)The Secretary of Health and Human Services may provide technical assistance and may make grants to States—
(1)to assist in the development of educational programs and materials and public service announcements respecting the dangers to human health from the use of smokeless tobacco,
(2)to assist in the distribution of such programs, materials, and announcements throughout the States, and
(3)to establish 18 as the minimum age for the purchase of smokeless tobacco.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 99–252, § 11, Feb. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 35, provided that: “(a) In General.—Except as provided in section 3(f) and 5(b) [section 4402(f) and 4404(b) of this title] and subsection (b), this Act [enacting this chapter and amending section 342 of Title 21, Food and Drugs] shall take effect one year after the date of enactment of this Act [Feb. 27, 1986]. “(b) Exception.—section 2, 3(b), 3(c), 3(d), 3(e), 4(b), 7, 8, 9 [section 4401, 4402(b) to (e), 4403(b), and 4406 to 4408 of this title], and 10 [amending section 342 of Title 21] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Feb. 27, 1986].”

Short Title

Pub. L. 99–252, § 1, Feb. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 30, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter and amending section 342 of Title 21, Food and Drugs] may be cited as the ‘Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act of 1986’.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 4401

Title 15Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73