Negotiators Take A Timeout In Their Tobacco Talks

Negotiators seeking to settle claims against the tobacco industry interrupted their talks Tuesday in Washington, D.C., amid continued disagreement over how strictly the government could regulate nicotine levels in cigarettes.

At the same time, some of the 35 states suing the industry to recover smoking-related Medicaid costs said they are lining up five whistleblower scientists to testify against cigarette companies in their lawsuits.

The first two trials - in Mississippi and Florida - are scheduled to start within weeks unless a settlement is clinched.

Some participants said BAT Industries, parent of Brown & Williamson, balked at the idea of eventually allowing the Food and Drug Administration to ban or severely restrict nicotine levels in tobacco products, especially since that could serve as a global model.

“The parties are still talking and we’re working hard,” said Steven Parrish, vice president at Philip Morris.