---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 4401"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "4401"
heading: "Public education"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/4401"
units:
  - "Chapter 70 — Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education"
---

# §4401. Public education

- (a) **Development—**
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/15/4408.md?p=6) of Health and Human Services shall establish and carry out a program to inform the public of any dangers to human health resulting from the use of [smokeless tobacco](/usc/15/4408.md?p=1) products. In carrying out such program the [Secretary](/usc/15/4408.md?p=6) shall—
    - (A) develop educational programs and materials and public service announcements respecting the dangers to human health from the use of [smokeless tobacco](/usc/15/4408.md?p=1);
    - (B) make such programs, materials, and announcements available to [States](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2), [local governments](/usc/15/34.md?p=1), school systems, the media, and such other entities as the [Secretary](/usc/15/4408.md?p=6) determines appropriate to further the purposes of this chapter;
    - (C) conduct and support research on the effect of [smokeless tobacco](/usc/15/4408.md?p=1) on human health; and
    - (D) collect, analyze, and disseminate information and studies on [smokeless tobacco](/usc/15/4408.md?p=1) and health.
  - (2) In developing programs, materials, and announcements under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) the [Secretary](/usc/15/4408.md?p=6) shall consult with the [Secretary](/usc/15/4408.md?p=6) of Education, medical and public health entities, consumer groups, representatives of manufacturers of [smokeless tobacco](/usc/15/4408.md?p=1) products, and other appropriate entities.
- (b) **Assistance—** The [Secretary](/usc/15/4408.md?p=6) of Health and Human Services may provide technical assistance and may make grants to [States](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2)—
  - (1) to assist in the development of educational programs and materials and public service announcements respecting the dangers to human health from the use of [smokeless tobacco](/usc/15/4408.md?p=1),
  - (2) to assist in the distribution of such programs, materials, and announcements throughout the [States](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2), and
  - (3) to establish 18 as the minimum age for the purchase of [smokeless tobacco](/usc/15/4408.md?p=1).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–252, § 2, Feb. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 30.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Pub. L. 99–252, § 11, Feb. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 35, provided that: In General.—Except as provided in sections 3(f) and 5(b) [sections 4402(f) and 4404(b) of this title] and subsection (b), this Act [enacting this chapter and amending section 342 of Title 21, Food and Drugs] shall take effect one year after the date of enactment of this Act [Feb. 27, 1986]. Exception.—Sections 2, 3(b), 3(c), 3(d), 3(e), 4(b), 7, 8, 9 [sections 4401, 4402(b) to (e), 4403(b), and 4406 to 4408 of this title], and 10 [amending section 342 of Title 21] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Feb. 27, 1986].”

### Short Title

Pub. L. 99–252, § 1, Feb. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 30, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter and amending section 342 of Title 21, Food and Drugs] may be cited as the ‘Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act of 1986’.”