Easily the biggest news in vaping community since 4/24/14. I am unaware of anything since that date that compares to this.
I recall Pamdis, Kent C. and myself broaching this topic after April 2014 and harping on it as a substantial item that could drastically change the playing field that FDA put forth. And noting that FDA says it cannot change grandfather date, saying that is up to Congress. Well, Congress has now weighed in telling FDA to do just that. Here in tail end of 2014, it is unlikely current makeup of Congress would go along with this, but also highly unlikely that FDA comes up with Final Rule by 12/31/14.
Whereas in a 2015 version of Congress where Pubs control both houses, I would say it is very likely as a result of this letter. Still possible it doesn't happen, but this would assume vapers do zero in relation to what we were just given as a very helpful tool to drastically change the playing field.
I would think we'd want to go with grandfather date that equals whatever date the FDA provides Final Rule and which has gone through all the necessary steps so that rule is Official. One of those necessary steps, as I understand things, is for it to be reviewed / sanctioned by Congress. Hence, if FDA decides no adjustment to grandfather date will be done (by them) because they don't think they can, then Congress would have opportunity to change it, and Boehner has now indicated he intends to have that adjusted if he has any say in it.
While this doesn't do everything that a politically aware vaper desires, it is most significant step I can think of with regards to the Federal jurisdiction over vaping, with exception of Congress exempting eCigs from FSPTCA or FDA authority. If vaping community for sure thinks we can get more than this, I'm up for pursuing that and giving it all we can, but not all that up for pie-in-the-sky thinking of what our tiny band of merry men feels is the only righteous path before we will agree to anything at all. I'm not saying anyone else is currently saying this, but to not recognize this as hugest item within vaping community since 4/24/14, makes me want to ask, very directly, what you feel is bigger and why is it better.
I recall Pamdis, Kent C. and myself broaching this topic after April 2014 and harping on it as a substantial item that could drastically change the playing field that FDA put forth. And noting that FDA says it cannot change grandfather date, saying that is up to Congress. Well, Congress has now weighed in telling FDA to do just that. Here in tail end of 2014, it is unlikely current makeup of Congress would go along with this, but also highly unlikely that FDA comes up with Final Rule by 12/31/14.
Whereas in a 2015 version of Congress where Pubs control both houses, I would say it is very likely as a result of this letter. Still possible it doesn't happen, but this would assume vapers do zero in relation to what we were just given as a very helpful tool to drastically change the playing field.
I would think we'd want to go with grandfather date that equals whatever date the FDA provides Final Rule and which has gone through all the necessary steps so that rule is Official. One of those necessary steps, as I understand things, is for it to be reviewed / sanctioned by Congress. Hence, if FDA decides no adjustment to grandfather date will be done (by them) because they don't think they can, then Congress would have opportunity to change it, and Boehner has now indicated he intends to have that adjusted if he has any say in it.
While this doesn't do everything that a politically aware vaper desires, it is most significant step I can think of with regards to the Federal jurisdiction over vaping, with exception of Congress exempting eCigs from FSPTCA or FDA authority. If vaping community for sure thinks we can get more than this, I'm up for pursuing that and giving it all we can, but not all that up for pie-in-the-sky thinking of what our tiny band of merry men feels is the only righteous path before we will agree to anything at all. I'm not saying anyone else is currently saying this, but to not recognize this as hugest item within vaping community since 4/24/14, makes me want to ask, very directly, what you feel is bigger and why is it better.
What I was addressing was the bold part in the Boehner letter: "...that the grandfather date for them be set at either April 25, 2014 (the date the proposed deeming regulation was published) or the date the final rule is published."
