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On this page: 

• Virtual Listening Session Overview
• Proposed Strategic Goals
• Registration Information 
• Contact

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Virtual Listening Session Overview   

FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) has initiated the development of a 5-year strategic plan to advance its mission. As part of an iterative, center-wide process, CTP has developed five proposed goal areas that have been shaped by staff and leaders from across the center. These goal areas are intended to be interconnected with four proposed cross-cutting themes: health equity, science, transparency, and stakeholder engagement. The center intends to publish its strategic plan by the end of 2023, following receipt and consideration of public input. 

On Aug. 22, 2023, beginning at 10 a.m. EDT, CTP will hold a virtual listening session to give the public an opportunity to verbally provide open public comment on the development of the 5-year strategic plan, including proposed strategic goals. After introductions, the center will begin the listening session with an overview of the process used to develop CTP’s strategic plan, including proposed goal areas. Registered speakers will then have approximately 4 minutes each to verbally share their comments on any topics related to the strategic plan. 

To gain additional perspectives as CTP develops its strategic plan, the center seeks public comments on these proposed goal areas or on any other areas that CTP should consider that might not be encapsulated by these proposed goal areas. CTP asks that comments be forward-looking, constructive, and concise in addressing the following questions: 

1. What key features, activities, or initiatives would you like CTP to consider as related to any of these proposed goal areas? For example, in the area of regulations and guidance documents, we would be interested in your feedback on specific regulations and guidance documents FDA should pursue and how they should be prioritized.   
2. What are measurable short- and long-term outcomes for the proposed goal areas over the next 2 to 5 years? 
3. What are three specific actions CTP could take in the next 5 years that would have the most impact in significantly reducing tobacco-related death and disease? 
4. Are there any important features, activities, or initiatives not encapsulated by these proposed goal areas that you believe CTP should consider as part of its strategic plan?  

The virtual listening session is free and open to the public. It will be accessible by computer or phone. Live closed captioning and ASL interpreters will be provided during the listening session. If you have issues registering for the session or have any questions, please email malini.runnells@fda.hhs.gov or call 1-877-CTP-1373 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. EDT. A transcript and recording will be made available after the listening session, which will be accessible on this webpage. A transcript of the listening session will also be accessible at Regulations.gov. 

In addition to this listening session, the public can submit electronic or written comments to the docket. Electronic comments must be submitted, and written comments must be postmarked by Aug. 29. Please visit the Federal Register notice for more information about submitting comments.

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Proposed Strategic Goals 

The proposed goal areas are as follows:  

1. Develop, Advance, and Communicate Comprehensive and Impactful Tobacco Regulations and Guidance. This goal includes activities related to the development and implementation of CTP’s regulatory and policy agenda; the articulation and publication of clear and comprehensive public policy statements; and efforts to advance health equity. 
2. Ensure Timely, Clear, and Consistent Product Application Review to Protect Public Health. This goal includes activities related to work processes such as optimizing the efficiency, consistency, and effectiveness of the product application review process; enhancing public understanding of regulatory requirements through transparency and stakeholder engagement efforts; and ensuring that the review process is supported by a strong regulatory science program. 
3. Ensure Compliance of Regulated Industry and Tobacco Products Utilizing All Available Tools, Including Robust Enforcement Actions. This goal includes pursuing enforcement actions to reduce violations; enhancing collaborations with federal and state agencies on tobacco enforcement efforts; and prioritizing agile market intelligence and surveillance to facilitate awareness of and effective responses to the evolving tobacco landscape.  
4. Improve Public Health by Enhancing Knowledge and Understanding of CTP Tobacco Product Regulation and the Risks Associated with Tobacco Product Use. This goal includes timely, clear, and accessible health communications and education to diverse public audiences, including those to discourage youth initiation, encourage cessation, and to inform adults who smoke about the relative risks of tobacco products. 
5. Advance Operational Excellence. This goal includes prioritization of workforce growth, engagement, and retention and CTP’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; modernizing business processes to enhance information management and programmatic efficacy; and seeking and applying needed resources to support CTP’s full portfolio of regulatory activities.  

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Registration Information   

Register to Provide Comment or Attend the Listening Session  

Interested in requesting to provide comment during the virtual listening session? 
All requests to provide an open public comment during the listening session must be received by Aug. 14, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Speaking spots are limited, and we cannot guarantee we’ll be able to accommodate all requests. We ask that groups and organizations select a single spokesperson to help us hear as many different perspectives as possible.   

Due to the expected high volume of requests to speak, CTP cannot accommodate requests to speak at a specific time. CTP endeavors to provide as much communication and notification for confirmed speakers as possible and will notify all registrants of their approximate time ahead of the listening session if they are selected to make public comment. Speaking spots are limited to 4 minutes.  

Interested in joining the listening session but not commenting?  
Listen-only attendance slots are unlimited, but registration is required. There is no deadline to register for listen-only slots. 

Can’t attend the listening session, but want to comment?  
In addition to this listening session, the public can submit electronic or written comments to the docket by Aug. 29. Please visit the Federal Register notice for more information.

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