232 



company in this country would want to be perceived that way at 

 all. So certainly we'll be more than happy to cooperate. 



I think we've been trying to cooperate, but we also realize that 

 there are risks involved in legislation because they may not have 

 the intent or they may not serve the intent that Congress intends 

 if passed. 



Mr. Waxman. Mr. Wyden, your time is expired and we have to 

 respond to a vote. And the only editorial comment I would make 

 to you is that the status quo is not working. We have got to do 

 something different, and I see if the industry is willing to be coop- 

 erative, perhaps we can work together, but I haven't seen a lot of 

 it when the industry still puts on blinders and says cigarettes don't 

 cause cancer. 



Nicotine is not addictive, we don't manipulate the nicotine levels 

 we don't do any of these things and, besides, everything is working 

 fine. The regulations, in fact, as you complained in your opening 

 statement, may be too burdensome. 



Mr. Sandefur. Well, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Waxman. You cooperated by being here, but you haven't 

 really answered a lot of the questions, even though you have been 

 in the industry for 30 years. 



Mr. Sandefur. I think reasonable people certainly have the right 

 to disagree and, obviously, you and I disagree on this particular 

 subject. 



Mr. Waxman. We do have to break. Let me suggest to you that 

 perhaps what we could do is, I'd be happy to sit down with you and 

 the other CEO's of the tobacco companies and have a private meet- 

 ing and see if there is something we can do. 



Mr. Sandefur. I'll certainly be more than pleased to attend that 

 meeting. You name the time and I'll certainly try to be there. 



Mr. Waxman. Would you be willing to help to get the other chief 

 executives. 



Mr. Sandefur. I'll certainly ask them. 



Mr. Bliley. I'd like to be there, too, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Waxman. I wouldn't have it without you. 



Mr. Bliley. Thank you. 



Mr. Waxman. We are going to break to respond to what may be 

 two votes in a row, so we'll probably break for around 10 minutes. 



Mr. Sandefur. Yes, sir. 



[Brief recess. 1 



Mr. Waxman. The meeting of the subcommittee will come back 

 to order. 



I want to call next on Mr. Bliley to pursue his second round. 



Mr. Bliley. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Sandefur, Dr. Kessler stated that Y-1 was developed by an 

 organization called DNA Plant Technology Corp. He also said that 

 this organization told the FDA that B&W had authorized it to say 

 that Y-1 had not been commercialized. I understand from your tes- 

 timony, however, that B&W gave DNA Plant Technology Corp. the 

 authority to talk to the FDA despite its confidentiality agreement 

 but did not tell it what to say to the FDA. 



Is my understanding correct? 



Mr. Sandefltr. Yes, sir. 



