Courtesy of the BBC
The US House of Representatives has backed a bill introducing tough new curbs on the tobacco industry.
The House passed the bill by 307-97, a day after it was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate. It now goes to President Obama to be signed into law.
The bill gives the US Food and Drug Administration strong powers to regulate the content and marketing of tobacco products.
It has been hailed as a milestone in the history of tobacco regulation.
About one in five Americans smoke, and the habit kills some 440,000 every year.
But tougher regulation has been stiffly opposed by the industry and tobacco's political backers.
Until now, tobacco has been more lightly regulated than cosmetics or pet food, and previous attempts at FDA regulation were struck down by the Supreme Court as requiring congressional approval.
The bill will "make history", President Obama said on Thursday after it was passed by the Senate by 79-17.
He may sign it into law as early as today.
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