FDA Hearing Part 2
By: Tiffany Davis
Flavor Vapor Media Specialist
The FDA had a hearing on May 15th
2014. This hearing lasted an hour and a half. Part two covers only
30mins. Please read ‘FDA Regulations Part 1” for the first 30mins.
Senator
Harkin has lead the movement in this particular hearing wanting harsh
regulations on e-cigs and possibly the abolishment of e-cigs and like
devices. For me personally it
was hard watching this part of the hearing because Sen. Harkin just
seems like an old man set in his ways and focused on one attribute of
the issues at hand.
Sen.
Harkin, started out this 30mins exactly how he started the first part of
the hearing, focused on the advertising and e-juice flavors he believes
is geared at children. Sen. Burr brought up an interesting point if
adults are not interested in fruity flavors why is other cessation
devices flavored? Like Nicorette? They have flavors like fruit chill,
mint, cinnamon, and cherry???
Senator
Harking then then started on the combined efforts of the FDA and CDC to
get people to quit smoking and scared to even try a combustible
cigarette. The Stop Smoking Campaigns many of us has seen on TV include-
“The real Cost” and “Tips from a Former Smoker”. These of course have
made some progress since 2003 the calls and visits to the FDA and CDCs
website has increased up to five fold. This does show that Americans
want to quit but, still the current cessation devices do not work for
some people.
Mr.
Zeller stated that the FDA is also funding dozens of studies into the
good and bad of electronic cigarettes. So, far the FDA has more
questions than answers right now. They want to know who is using them,
how they are using them, and what chemical composite is the vapor made
of? One study will be following e-cig users of all ages over time to see
what effects that the e-cigs have on their bodies.
One
statement the FDA is hoping will hold in court is the claim that e-cigs
are cessation devices. This one statement will give the FDA its power to
further regulate the market. In 2008 the FDA tried to stop the shipment
of e-cig devices into the US but, because the e-cig market DID NOT
claim that they were cessation device the FDA lost their case in court.
Also, an overseas supplier sued the FDA and won their case because, the
FDA was confiscating e-cig shipments and not permitting their
distribution.
If you
read “Part 1” then you know I am now a fan of Senator Burr. Sen. Burr
posed many questions to Mr. Zeller (FDA) and received many startling
answers. Sen. Burr during this
entire hearing has been speaking about “harm reduction” and the science
of the technology. Even Mr. Zeller made the statement that if we could
get everyone in the US that smokes combustible cigarettes to switch to
electronic cigarettes it would be GOOD for public health!! This honestly
made my mouth fall open in shock! I couldn’t believe it he agreed with
Sen. Burr!
Quotes from Senator Burr-----
“If we
kill technology and innovation, which is, in essence, what some are
attempting to do at the beginning; it’s not going to play a role in
reducing the amount of Americans who smoke,”
“I can
remember when opportunities for harm reduction were the goal, but the
technology wasn’t there … well now, the technology is there, and how
quickly we’ve moved to the point where harm reduction is no longer a
goal.”
One
other statement Sen. Burr made was diabetes is an American epidemic you
don’t see the FDA stopping people from getting their “Big Macs” at
McDonalds then why should we stop Americans from buying e-cigs because
smoking/smoking related cancer is also an America epidemic.
This has
been a powerful hearing to watch you almost want to slap one guy and
hug the other. This is going to be a long struggle for the vaping
community so, we need to combine and create a voice louder than the FDA
can ignore.
Thank
you for reading our blogs. We strive to keep you updated with the
latest news pertaining to e-cigs and vaping. In each blog we will be
including links to sign a petition and also a link on “how to write a
letter” to the government.
We
would love to read your suggestions, comments, or questions! Please
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inspirational story! As always “ Vaping Kicks Ash”!!! “ Vaping Kicks
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Get INVOLVED!!
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Sign a petition to let the government know you care!
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/veto-fda-restrictions-e-cigarettes/kdKtpFH4
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