EVCA Demands a Regulations Change in Letter to FDA

Electronic Vaping Coalition of America to FDA: Change Vaping Regulations

“With a price tag of up to $2.5 million per application for every single product already on store shelves, just to get the FDA’s blessing, there is absolutely no way the vaping industry can survive,” said Mark Block, EVCA founder and director. “On top of that, the agency has no measurable standards to go by. Government bureaucrats will essentially judge the safety of thousands of vaping products while blindfolded.”

Vape fans across the globe will be excited to know that the fight against e-cigarette regulations made big waves this week. According to the Electronic Vaping Coalition of America (EVCA), a letter was sent on Monday to the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Scott Gottlieb. This letter from the EVCA encourages Gottlieb to alter the rules that enlist vaping under the same restrictions as tobacco products. In 2016, a regulation was passed that treats e-cigarettes like tobacco products. The directive includes an expensive pre-market approval process that dates back to 2007.

The EVCA has enlisted some strong supporters when it comes to their battle with the FDA. Earlier this year in June, a letter cited by the EVCA and authored by Iowa Attorney General Thomas Miller was also signed by numerous scientists and major policy makers. General Miller—a past Truth Initiative board member and rival against cigarette manufacturers—has taken a strong stance in promoting the health benefits of e-cigarettes in recent years. Overall, he believes vaping e-cigarettes to be a better alternative in place of smoking tobacco products. In the letter addressed to the FDA, Miller made this point exactly:

“It is clear beyond reasonable doubt that vapor products present lower risks to nicotine users than smoking,” Miller wrote, adding that these safer vaping products face more regulations than dangerous traditional cigarettes. “The more risky cigarette products have been ‘grandfathered’ and thousands of cigarette brands are on widespread sale without ever having faced an approval process.”

Miller’s letter introduced solid evidence to support these claims by introducing the discovery that punishing the vaping industry further punishes local economies driven by vaping producers and smokers looking for an effective way to kick the habit. This conclusion was determined by the Village of Heartland, Wisconsin Board of Trustees. 

However, the EVCA agrees with Miller that there needs to be vape regulations in place—just as long as they aren't under the same umbrella as regular tobacco products. In their letter they state their support: “We agree with the premise in General Miller’s letter that there must be some appropriate regulations to guide the use of the vaping devices and liquids.”

So who does the vaping coalition believe is to blame? Mark Block believes that the previous FDA administration before Dr. Gottlieb is primarily at fault. Still, action is adamantly demanded by the director and founder. “Dr. Gottlieb has an opportunity to right a wrong perpetrated by his predecessors who placed money and special interests ahead of countless American lives," said Mark Block.