The FTC intends to request sales and marketing data from the largest cigarette and smokeless tobacco companies. The FTC has authority to request this data under Section 6(b) of the FTC Act and will use this data to publish reports on each of these industries.
Due to consolidation within the cigarette manufacturing industry, the FTC anticipates sending information requests to the four largest cigarette companies rather than five (the brands covered by the four largest cigarette makers are the same as those covered previously by the five largest). For data collection from smokeless tobacco makers, however, the projected tally from five remains unchanged from before. Overall, the FTC conservatively projects seeking data from, as before, fifteen manufacturers (cigarette & smokeless). While the estimated burden hours per large and small manufacturers, 180 hours and 60 hours, respectively, remains unchanged, the reduction from five to four large cigarette makers from which data would be sought skews downward the average hours burden per manufacturer (large and small, combined) from 140 hours previously to 132 hours prospectively.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Tobacco Rpts '17 Suppt'g Stmt_fin.pdf
FTC Cigarette and Smokeless Tobacco Data Collection