FDA to host Modified Risk Tobacco Product workshop in DC Aug 25/26, free registration still being accepted

[Vocalek]

2) Some crazy woman who is in tobacco control in Indiana was on the final panel of the day. Bill revealed that she's a long-time prohibitionist, and that was the tone of her speech. She brought up how when Marlboro Snus was test-marketed in Indianapolis, surveys revealed that while non-smoking teens weren't using them, teens who were smokers did (the horror!). Next, she complained that some Marlboro Snus intended for the Indianapolis market actually ended up being sent -- not by the tobacco companies -- to troops in Iraq (keep on smoking soliders!). Last, she briefly brought up e-cigarettes, and said that they may complicate smoking laws and lead to people lighting up, which literally made me laugh out loud.

At the end of the panel, she had a closing statement in which she told the panel to remember that their duty is to "do no harm." Considering this is a panel on MODIFIED RISK tobacco PRODUCTS, this struck me as silly. So I went up to her and asked why she'd say that. She blew me off within 10 seconds, telling me, "Well, that's the message I wanted to convey."

See my response #8 in this thread: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/media-general-news/218921-smokeless-tobacco-cnbc.html

 

[Vocalek]

Will there be video of this workshop like there was for the dissolvables?

I just sent off an email to the young lady who was the meeting organizaer, inquiring when the FDA will post video recordings of the workhop.

 

[Vocalek]

Bill just sent me Dr. Gilbert Ross's slides, which I converted to a PDF. Dr. Ross is Medical/Executive Director for the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH).

View attachment Ross ACSH MRTP.pdf

These present a very powerful argument for the use of Tobacco Harm Reduction.

 

[Bill Godshall]

The FDA has posted the archived webcast of its August 25/26 MRTP workshop at
Public Workshop: Scientific Evaluation of Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) Applications

For those who don't want to watch the entire event, I suggest watching the 2nd video clip of Aug 25, as that contained Scott Ballin's excellent presentation, and then the public comment period (note that was a break from the 35th till the 55th minute of that segment, which can be scrolled ahead to see public commenters) at
FDA CFTP Day 1_0

 

[Bill Godshall]

Lars Ramstrom's excellent PP presentation at the FDA MRTP workshop documents many Swedish smokers switching to far less hazardous snus, very few snus users switching to cigarettes
http://www.casaa.org/files/Ramstrom-presentation-FDA-Workshop.pdf

 

[Bill Godshall]

Please note that September 23 (Friday) is deadline for submitting comments to FDA on its MRTP workshop
Public Workshop: Scientific Evaluation of Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) Applications

 

[Vocalek]

The link from the FDA site Bill listed above to Regulations.gov brings up a blank page for me. Anyone else try it?

 

[DC2]

The link from the FDA site Bill listed above to Regulations.gov brings up a blank page for me. Anyone else try it?

Yes, and the links all worked for me.

By the way, there were many excellent speakers.
It is very refreshing to hear so much common sense all in one place.

 

[Vocalek]

OK, it works now.

Regarding the common sense. Don't worry DC2. The common sense will disappear as soon as the folks with the power start talking. Then we will be back to such logic as, "If we allow people to quit smoking by using a tobacco product, it will delay their quitting smoking, which increases public harm."