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On this page: 

• Listening Session Recording
• Virtual Listening Session Overview
• Proposed Strategic Goals
• Contact

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Listening Session Recording 

Transcript – Listening Session – Aug. 22, 2023

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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, CTP held 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 began the listening session with an overview of the process used to develop CTP’s strategic plan, including proposed goal areas. Registered speakers then had 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 was free and open to the public. Live closed captioning and ASL interpreters were provided during the listening session. 

In addition to this listening session, the public had the opportunity to submit electronic or written comments to the docket by Aug. 29, 2023. Visit the Federal Register notice for more information.

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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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