The Food and Drug Administration on Monday announced the names of at least two scientists with ties to pharmaceutical companies that distribute stop-smoking medicine to a scientific panel that will help it regulate the tobacco industry.

Jack Henningfield, one of nine voting members and Vice President of Research and Health Policy with Pinney Associates, a consulting company having clients as GlaxoSmithKline PLC, will be part of a committee of 12 people that will extend advice, information and recommendations to the FDA on a wide range of tobacco issues.

The FDA posted on its Web site that it seeks "qualified experts with minimal conflicts of interest."

Kathleen Quinn, a spokeswoman for the agency, revealed that panel choices were made based on the federal statute, which claimed the non-industry members of the panel could not have received any salary or payments from any tobacco manufacturer, distributor or retailer in the previous 18 months.

Mr. Benowitz beliefs that he doesn’t witness a direct conflict of interest as the board indulges in tobacco products, not drugs that are focused at helping people quit smoking.

The Campaign For Tobacco-Free Kids, a Washington-based anti-smoking organization, praised the FDA's choice of committee members.