FTC decision affects cigarette labeling

The Federal Trade Commission reversed its direction issued 42 years ago that allowed tobacco companies to make claims about tar and nicotine yields based on testing machines.

Tobacco industry uses a test known as the Cambridge Filter method to support the statement of tar and nicotine in cigarette smoke. But the commission said the test method is flawed and as a result of marketing, which promotes the tar and nicotine can cause consumers believe that light cigarettes safer.

As a result, the future of advertising, which lists TAR levels in cigarettes would not be able to use such terms as "the FTC method."

Under the current system, the cigarettes with TAR at speeds higher than 15 milligrams per cigarette, commonly referred to in the industry as "full flavor." Cigarettes with the TAR is less than 15 mg, referred to as "low" or "light".