Just a few days ago The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released its proposed regulations on electronic cigarettes. The proposed plan was long awaited and covered electronic cigarette devices, personal vaporizers in general as well as other tobacco alternative products. After the proposition was released, The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association (CASAA), being the authoritarian advocates for the consumer base seeking tobacco alternatives, carefully reviewed the new regulations and we’re displeased.
The CASAA warned that the new rules offered little to no benefit at all and that if it was to pass as-is, it would have a huge negative impact on cost for consumers. Julie Woessner, CASAA President called this a classic case of imposing a solution and finding a problem later. She also said that the regulations had no focus on real concerns and would slowly crush top grade e-cigarette manufacturers with costly paperwork that would not help ensure safety and quality.
The new regulations would impose very high cost registrations and lengthy approval processes that would have a crippling effect for businesses. Advising that the goal would actually be to eliminate many of the best quality electronic cigarette brands available today. Even though no ban was suggested by the FDA, they indicate that according to the propositions, they plan to start banning certain flavored e-liquids later as they develop the regulations further.
The future for these regulations remain a high concern. All electronic cigarette or personal vaporizer users who made the switch from tobacco smoking, know very well that it requires a good quality product to be able to completely cease smoking. In fact, many who try vaporizing, usually go back to smoking due to having used a low grade device, the wrong flavors and strengths and so on. The report touches base on this and advised that research shows how important it is to have high quality devices and e-liquids for a high rate of smoking cessation. These new regulations might hurt many of these top brands and their flavor lines.
The CASAA is going to respond to the proposition with a report that will focus on the issues with the new regulations in the hope that the FDA will review the new proposition. If that fails, they plan to take it to court. You can head to the full report on the CASAA website to get more details on their concerns and upcoming battle against the FDA.