838 



I just hope that we can get specific dosage information so that 

 independent scientists can make that declaration. I would be 

 pleased if that was the case, but I will tell you, as one Member of 

 Congress, I am not prepared to say just because some toxicologists 

 that you all have hired, that does it. 



The Centers for Disease Control says that that is not acceptable 

 to them on the safety issue. 



Mr. James Johnston. Did the CDC also tell you that additional 

 information — ^we have provided it? The U.S. Government has had 

 this information for 14 years and you're accusing us of hiding 

 something. Ridiculous. 



Mr. Wyden. We don't question for a second that all through the 

 1980's public health officials made little or no use of that list. We 

 documented the number of requests. There were virtually none. 

 But we've also been told, and Dr. Roper, the previous head of the 

 CDC, said that he was not able under the law to get the quantity 

 information. 



Since he couldn't get quantity information, he felt research was 

 really quite meaningless. You all can resolve this issue, it seems 

 to me, by giving to Federal health officials quantity information 

 about these ingredients. I hope that can be done. I think that is 

 what is esser.tial to really deal with this issue. 



Mr. Chairman, I'd be happy to yield. I had one other area I did 

 want to ask about. 



Mr. Waxman. If you would do it briefly because your time has 

 expired and I think we're ready to conclude the hearing. But I don't 

 want to cut you off. 



Mr. Wyden. All right. I did want to ask one other question be- 

 cause it dealt with a matter Dr. Spears was involved with, as well. 

 It may be appropriate for you, Mr. Tisch. This involves the fire-safe 

 cigarette issue. 



It seems to me that your industry is virtually outside the 

 consumer protection laws overall, but it is certainly clear that that 

 is the case in the fire-safe area. 



Each year, cigarette-ignited fires cause $400 million in property 

 damage, 1,200 in death. We've got fire safety standards for 

 sleepwear, children's sleepwear and a variety of other things. These 

 standards are designed to protect the public from fires ignited by 

 your products. 



Yet, your industry opposes issuance of Federal standards in this 

 area. Now, the tobacco industry has been able to delay consider- 

 ation of Federal fire-safe cigarette standards through two Federal 

 task forces. 



Mr. Tisch, are you aware that in 1987, one of these Federal task 

 forces included Dr. Spears and it determined — one of these task 

 forces, with your staff person. Dr. Spears, determined that a fire- 

 safe cigarette was technically and economically feasible? 



Mr. Tisch. I'm going to let Dr. Spears 



Mr. Wyden. But were you aware? He served. He works for your 

 company. You're the CEO. Were you aware that he was on this 

 task force that found you could make a fire-safe cigarette and we 

 could keep a lot of folks from getting hurt? 



Mr. Tisch. I may have been aware because I know that he's been 

 very involved in the fire-safe cigarette issue for many, many years. 



