233 



Mr. Bliley. Your statement seems to be confirmed by a letter I 

 have just received from Mr. David Evans, vice president for busi- 

 ness development, DNA Plant Technology Corporation. 



In the fourth paragraph of this letter, "We told FDA in a con- 

 versation on June 10, 1994, DNAPT had been freed up by Brown 

 & Williamson to address the topic of DNAPTs knowledge of com- 

 mercialization status of Y-1. This topic was within the realm of 

 confidentiality under DNAPT's agreement with Brown & 

 Williamson and, as such, we were not free to address it absent au- 

 thorization from Brown & Williamson. 



"We were not authorized or asked by Brown & Willisimson to ad- 

 dress this topic other than with respect to our knowledge or lack 

 of knowledge. We told FDA in that conversation, as confirmed in 

 a subsequent conversation with FDA June 14, 1994, that as far as 

 we knew, Y-1 had not been commercialized." 



Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to make this letter a 

 part of the record. 



Mr. Waxman. Without objection, it will be made a part of the 

 record. 



Mr. Bliley. The terms genetic engineering and genetic manipu- 

 lation were also used rather extensively Tuesday. Mr. Sandefur, 

 did B&W use genetic engineering to develop Y-1 or did it use cross- 

 breeding methods? 



Mr. Sandefur. It's my understanding we use crossbreeding 

 methods. Congressman. 



Mr. Bliley. As I understand it, nicotine levels in cigarettes vary 

 depending on the blend of tobacco. I also understand that Y-1 is 

 one of the many tobaccos you have used in your blends. 



In blending, do you try to achieve a certain nicotine level or do 

 you blend for taste and for tar? 



Mr. Sandefur. We blend for taste and for tar, yes, sir. 



Mr. Bliley. Mr. Sandefur, the term manipulate also was used 

 loosely at the hearing Tuesday. To me, manipulate has the con- 

 notation that you are doing something artificially or improperly in 

 the context of nicotine which occurs naturally in tobacco. The term 

 manipulate suggests to me that you are adding something other 

 than tobacco to increase the nicotine. 



My question is: Do you manipulate the nicotine level of your 

 cigarettes? 



Mr. Sandefur. We do not manipulate the nicotine levels of our 

 cigarettes, no, sir. 



Mr. Bliley. Thank you. Mr. Sandefur, Dr. Kessler suggested 

 that there was something unique or unusual about Y-1 because it 

 contained approximately 6 percent nicotine. Are there other tobacco 

 plants that are grown with nicotine levels in this range? 



Mr. Sandefur. Yes, sir, there are. And there are leaf, commer- 

 cial leaf that is grown outside of the United States that would have 

 higher leaf content — nicotine content in the leaf than Y-1. 



Mr. Bliley. So if you were just interested in getting nicotine, you 

 could get one of these other leafs that had an even higher rate? 



Mr. Sandefur. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Bliley. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe that's all the 

 questions I have. 



