The ECA Disclosed

[ECA]

[FONT="]To all of our friends and family,[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]The Electronic Cigarette Association (ECA) is comprised of international manufactures, suppliers, resellers and consumers who are dedicated to the advancement of electronic smoking technology. The ECA strives to educate the public on electronic smoking devices and tobacco harm reduction. The ECA strongly believes and enforces that any form of smoking is an adult action, and adults who engage in this behavior should have the freedom to choose smoking alternatives.[/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]If you are a manufacturer, supplier, or reseller, please know that you will be required to follow some very specific guidelines regarding your marketing claims. You will also be required to start a transition into safer manufacturing, labeling and bottling practices and a push towards better testing. It is imperative that you understand the ECA believes that self regulation is a viable option for this industry and if you are not willing to participate in a fashion that has been set out by your fellow suppliers and by the consumers, we wish you the best.[/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]Consumers: We are SO excited for your participation! We have a hard road ahead of us and the fight will not be easy. But with all of us joined together, we will be a group that simply cannot go unnoticed. The ECA will lobby Congress and we will need your help. You will be asked at specific times to contact your elected officials so that our presence on the Hill does not go unnoticed. The ECA needs you and needs your donations. In return, the ECA will fight for your right to easy accessibility AND will lead suppliers and manufacturers into compliance for your safety.[/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]As for our presence on the hill, we are securing a former Congressman as our spokesman and working on a few other heavy hitters. We also have support from Bill Godshall of tobaccofree.org. He has given us a wealth of information and is 100% on board with our cause. He has rallied all of the non-smoking leagues within the Tobacco Harm Reduction camps he can and promises to do more. Mr. Godshall has added our petition to his email list and believes the testimonials are beautiful and will carry weight in the health community. We also have Dr. Siegel, Dr. Nitzkin, David Sweanor, TobaccoHarmReduction.org, and many others who are huge proponents of the electronic cigarette. We all need to rally together and show the health community that the electronic cigarette industry and community is here and we are willing to do what needs to be done.[/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]You have asked for a list of participating suppliers thus far. Each of these suppliers have participated time, blood, sweat and tears up until this point and moving forward, they will also be providing dues and donations. They have also committed to some of the following rules and while these are limited in scope at this time, they will not be limited to simply these: Bottles will be childproofed. Proper labels will include warnings and will not include any language that can be conceived by a reading age child such as “cherry” or "bubblegum”. [/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]Suppliers will make no claims regarding health, smoking cessation or quitting, until such claims are scientifically proven. They will sell the product in a fashion that does not glorify smoking and they will also adhere to any FTC regulations on tobacco advertising for smokeless products. Manufacturers will need to uphold certain safety and cleanliness standards as regulated by either their state board of health or governmental regulators such as the FDA. Self regulation is in the best interest of the FDA, the industry AND the taxpayers and this is an extremely feasible option. We have every intention of working hand in hand with the FDA, but would like to be considered a self-regulating industry, just as the homeopathic industry has done.[/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]This supplier list will change and all members of the association, whether a consumer, manufacturer, distributor or reseller will be notified of changes to the directory based on participation. Suppliers, do you want to be added to this list? Contact your customer list so your consumers on the forum can speak up and say you did your part! We will gladly add you ASAP. [/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]AlternaSmokes, AltSmoke, Bloog Planet, CigTechs.com, Cloud9Smoking, eCigSupply, electronixstix, electronic-cigz.com, eLiquidPlanet, eSmokerShop, eSmokeyTreats, Instead, Johnson Creek, JuicyLiquid, LiteCigUSA, njoy, Skyrl, Smoke Liberation, TheSmokeSafe, TheSmokelessShop, Sun Valley Systems, TimmyT, TrueSmoker, TrueVapor, Vapor4Life, Vapor Guys, VaporNine, VaporStix[/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]Please visit our website, [URL="http://www.ecigaretteassociation.org/"]www.ecigaretteassociation.org[/URL], where you will be able to join as a member whether you are a manufacturer, supplier, reseller, or consumer. All countries are encouraged to participate. In the upcoming weeks, we will have projects and opportunities for those who wish to volunteer time to the cause. We have estimated that in the beginning months we will need a minimum of $15,000 per month to fight this fight. This money will come from dues of suppliers, manufacturers, and resellers as well as dues and donations from Consumer members. Obviously, the more money we can raise, the more we can do. We will have fees in hiring a PR firm to represent us, Lawyers to argue and defend our position, and then there will be administrative fees for those we need to hire to actually run the association on a day to day basis.[/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]As we are still in the process of legally forming the association, we cannot take donations or accept dues, however, by signing up with your email address and real name, this allows us to gather and do what we can while the legal portion, including by-laws and industry suppliers, is being developed. With the information that has come to our attention recently regarding the true essence of time, it seems ridiculous to sit back and wait regarding things that we can be doing on a grassroots level. As soon as we can move forward on the financial portion of this endeavour, all members will be notified.[/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[B][FONT="]This is not a losing battle.[/FONT][/B][FONT="] We have a short amount of time, but everything we have in our arsenal will need to be used. We have to band together and we have to stop conspiracies within our ranks. We have all sat on this forum for months now and discussed the “what if’s and the what to do’s” and now we have a clear road that we need to take. We need to utilize our allies in the health community, we need to rally behind them and rally Congressional members on our own, and we need to educate the everyday public on who we are and what it is that we are doing. [/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]Have you started a vaping club in your area like Spikey has and want to get the word out? Please contact Antoinette Lanza of BloogPlanet via [email]a@bloogplanet.com[/email], ECA’s Consumer Liason, so she can ensure that your group will be listed on the Consumer participation website [URL="http://www.doyouvape.com/"]www.doyouvape.com[/URL] (coming asap). New Suppliers, contact Kurt Auer of VaporGuys via (TaleyWhacker), ECA’s Secretary, that you are interested in participating so he can offer you an application as soon as it is available.[/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]Looking forward to the Future and Success of eSmoking/vaping![/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]

 

[Retina_Burn]

Hmmm... Ok, this is better. I will be visiting the website to check it out. I will not however, join in anything like this unless I see the golden words, "We have set up this non profit organization for the purposes of...". Of course, I'll also want to be able to confirm that with a business entity lookup search. I, for one, will not ever even consider paying "dues" or "fees" unless I am sure that the organization has been setup properly to reflect is goal of helping in amending said legislation and that any of the key players can be properly prosecuted if any pocket lining goes on. Many a helpful organization has taken advantage of those that truly do wish to help.

 

[Nuck]

I wish you guys the best of luck. It's definitely a David vs Goliath battle and the odds are very long but at least you're trying.

 

[applefr3ak]

exactly.. and you have no idea how much work/time/money it is going to take from us all to get off the ground.

 

[Steph2323]

[FONT="]To all of our friends and family,[/FONT]


[FONT="]The Electronic Cigarette Association (ECA) is comprised of international manufactures, suppliers, resellers and consumers who are dedicated to the advancement of electronic smoking technology. The ECA strives to educate the public on electronic smoking devices and tobacco harm reduction. The ECA strongly believes and enforces that any form of smoking is an adult action, and adults who engage in this behavior should have the freedom to choose smoking alternatives.[/FONT]

[FONT="]If you are a manufacturer, supplier, or reseller, please know that you will be required to follow some very specific guidelines regarding your marketing claims. You will also be required to start a transition into safer manufacturing, labeling and bottling practices and a push towards better testing. It is imperative that you understand the ECA believes that self regulation is a viable option for this industry and if you are not willing to participate in a fashion that has been set out by your fellow suppliers and by the consumers, we wish you the best.[/FONT]

[FONT="]Consumers: We are SO excited for your participation! We have a hard road ahead of us and the fight will not be easy. But with all of us joined together, we will be a group that simply cannot go unnoticed. The ECA will lobby Congress and we will need your help. You will be asked at specific times to contact your elected officials so that our presence on the Hill does not go unnoticed. The ECA needs you and needs your donations. In return, the ECA will fight for your right to easy accessibility AND will lead suppliers and manufacturers into compliance for your safety.[/FONT]

[FONT="]As for our presence on the hill, we are securing a former Congressman as our spokesman and working on a few other heavy hitters. We also have support from Bill Godshall of tobaccofree.org. He has given us a wealth of information and is 100% on board with our cause. He has rallied all of the non-smoking leagues within the Tobacco Harm Reduction camps he can and promises to do more. Mr. Godshall has added our petition to his email list and believes the testimonials are beautiful and will carry weight in the health community. We also have Dr. Siegel, Dr. Nitzkin, David Sweanor, TobaccoHarmReduction.org, and many others who are huge proponents of the electronic cigarette. We all need to rally together and show the health community that the electronic cigarette industry and community is here and we are willing to do what needs to be done.[/FONT]

[FONT="]You have asked for a list of participating suppliers thus far. Each of these suppliers have participated time, blood, sweat and tears up until this point and moving forward, they will also be providing dues and donations. They have also committed to some of the following rules and while these are limited in scope at this time, they will not be limited to simply these: Bottles will be childproofed. Proper labels will include warnings and will not include any language that can be conceived by a reading age child such as “cherry” or "bubblegum”. [/FONT]

[FONT="]Suppliers will make no claims regarding health, smoking cessation or quitting, until such claims are scientifically proven. They will sell the product in a fashion that does not glorify smoking and they will also adhere to any FTC regulations on tobacco advertising for smokeless products. Manufacturers will need to uphold certain safety and cleanliness standards as regulated by either their state board of health or governmental regulators such as the FDA. Self regulation is in the best interest of the FDA, the industry AND the taxpayers and this is an extremely feasible option. We have every intention of working hand in hand with the FDA, but would like to be considered a self-regulating industry, just as the homeopathic industry has done.[/FONT]

[FONT="]This supplier list will change and all members of the association, whether a consumer, manufacturer, distributor or reseller will be notified of changes to the directory based on participation. Suppliers, do you want to be added to this list? Contact your customer list so your consumers on the forum can speak up and say you did your part! We will gladly add you ASAP. [/FONT]

[FONT="]AlternaSmokes, AltSmoke, Bloog Planet, CigTechs.com, Cloud9Smoking, eCigSupply, electronixstix, eLiquidPlanet, eSmokeyTreats, Instead, Johnson Creek, JuicyLiquid, LiteCigUSA, nJoy, Skyrl, Smoke Liberation, TheSmokeSafe, TheSmokelessShop, Sun Valley Systems, TimmyT, TrueVapor, Vapor4Life, Vapor Guys, VaporNine, VaporStix[/FONT]

[FONT="]Please visit our website, www.ecigaretteassociation.org, where you will be able to join as a member whether you are a manufacturer, supplier, reseller, or consumer. All countries are encouraged to participate. In the upcoming weeks, we will have projects and opportunities for those who wish to volunteer time to the cause. We have estimated that in the beginning months we will need a minimum of $15,000 per month to fight this fight. This money will come from dues of suppliers, manufacturers, and resellers as well as dues and donations from Consumer members. Obviously, the more money we can raise, the more we can do. We will have fees in hiring a PR firm to represent us, Lawyers to argue and defend our position, and then there will be administrative fees for those we need to hire to actually run the association on a day to day basis.[/FONT]

[FONT="]As we are still in the process of legally forming the association, we cannot take donations or accept dues, however, by signing up with your email address and real name, this allows us to gather and do what we can while the legal portion, including by-laws and industry suppliers, is being developed. With the information that has come to our attention recently regarding the true essence of time, it seems ridiculous to sit back and wait regarding things that we can be doing on a grassroots level. As soon as we can move forward on the financial portion of this endeavour, all members will be notified.[/FONT]

[B][FONT="]This is not a losing battle.[/FONT][/B][FONT="] We have a short amount of time, but everything we have in our arson will need to be used. We have to ban together and we have to stop conspiracies within our ranks. We have all sat on this forum for months now and discussed the “what if’s and the what to do’s” and now we have a clear road that we need to take. We need to utilize our allies in the health community, we need to rally behind them and rally Congressional members on our own, and we need to educate the everyday public on who we are and what it is that we are doing. [/FONT]

[FONT="]Have you started a vaping club in your area like Spikey has and want to get the word out? Please contact Antoinette Lanza of BloogPlanet via a@bloogplanet.com, ECA’s Consumer Liason, so she can ensure that your group will be listed on the Consumer participation website www.doyouvape.com (coming asap). New Suppliers, contact Kurt Auer of VaporGuys via (TaleyWhacker), ECA’s Secretary, that you are interested in participating so he can offer you an application as soon as it is available.[/FONT]

[FONT="]Looking forward to the Future and Success of eSmoking/Vaping![/FONT]

[FONT="]Joanna Watt[/FONT]
[FONT="]Acting President[/FONT]
[FONT="]Electronic Cigarette Association[/FONT]

Thanks Joanna for this information. Is the list of suppliers above the only suppliers that are part of the ECA?
Stephanie

 

[Vicks Vap-oh-Yeah]

Lacey

I think you and the association are doing a great job, the time of the ECig is coming, and it sounds like you have a roadmap and a destination now in line.

Not to belittle all the hard work you have done, but were Janty and Ruyan contacted? They both have a presence in the US, and longevity in the industry.

 

[nycsublimegirl]

Thanks Joanna for this information. Is the list of suppliers above the only suppliers that are part of the ECA?
Stephanie

They are the suppliers who have shown the interest and participated up to this point. new members are very welcome to apply, but will have to meet the standards set forth in the announcement.

 

[Steph2323]

They are the suppliers who have shown the interest and participated up to this point. new members are welcome to apply, but will have to meet the standards set forth in the announcement.

Thanks for the reply. I was happy to see that most of the suppliers that I have ordered from are on the list. Some are missing though
Stephanie

 

[RjG]

I don't see Puresmoker on that list?

 

[nycsublimegirl]

Thanks for the reply. I was happy to see that most of the suppliers that I have ordered from are on the list. Some are missing though
Stephanie

We have had a running thread in the suppliers forum on this for the past month or so...asking for supplier interest... we will continue to do so as the announcement states... we hope to see everyone join with us in this...including the manufacturers and consumers...

You should definitely urge suppliers you do not see on the list to contact kurt from vaporguys / taleywacker in order to start the application process!!!

As you can see we already have a diverse list but aside from the guidelines and rules that we have set forth for supplier membership...i.e childproof bottles, no cessation marketing etc....there is nothing stopping anyone from applying....

We absolutely want and need strength in numbers!

 

[Nuck]

There are some important questions relating to competitive advantage that need to be addressed. Particularly since you will be requesting consumer donations.

Some of the rules could easily be used to block out specific suppliers. Will putting the 'ECF member' be used for marketing purposes and the image promoted that these suppliers are somehow safer?

Then there are issues like who controls the board and what are the vested interests driving decisions they make. Will the be an appeals process and will it be open? Without 100% transparency, this could quickly be derailed into a body that does more harm than good for the market as a whole.

It will be interesting to see how it evolves.

 

[Steph2323]

We have had a running thread in the suppliers forum on this for the past month or so...asking for supplier interest... we will continue to do so as the announcement states... we hope to see everyone join with us in this...including the manufacturers and consumers...

You should definitely urge suppliers you do not see on the list to contact kurt from vaporguys / taleywacker in order to start the application process!!!

As you can see we already have a diverse list but aside from the guidelines and rules that we have set forth for supplier membership...i.e childproof bottles, no cessation marketing etc....there is nothing stopping anyone from applying....

We absolutely want and need strength in numbers!

Will do. Thanks again for the info
Stephanie

 

[nycsublimegirl]

There are some important questions relating to competitive advantage that need to be addressed. Particularly since you will be requesting consumer donations.

Some of the rules could easily be used to block out specific suppliers. Will putting the 'ECF member' be used for marketing purposes and the image promoted that these suppliers are somehow safer?

Then there are issues like who controls the board and what are the vested interests driving decisions they make. Will the be an appeals process and will it be open? Without 100% transparency, this could quickly be derailed into a body that does more harm than good for the market as a whole.

It will be interesting to see how it evolves.

Any assurances we give now will not compare to how satisfied we feel you be when you see how professionally this unfolds...

it is important for consumers to keep a watchful eye and vocalize their
opinions!

 

[WillPower]

Deleted -- I changed my mind after reading more about ECA.

 

[Nuck]

Any assurances we give now will not compare to how satisfied we feel you be when you see how professionally this unfolds...

it is important for consumers to keep a watchful eye and vocalize their
opinions!

Ok..the more I think about this, the more I can see how easy it would be to force anti-competitive practices. A list of declarations on what does NOT fall under the power of the ECA would be quite reassuring. Here are just a few:

The ECA will not promote the idea that members products are safer or of higher quality than non-members.

The ECA rules will not be used to restrict marketing outside of the following areas of concern: (list required)

The ECA will not dictate packaging style, packaging size, contents, flavorings or nicotine levels. Any restrictions would be a form of price fixing so this one is quite important.

The ECA will not dictate acceptable models of vaporizers or represent itself as a body to any manufacturer for the purpose of marketing or exclusivity of services.

These are just off the top of my head, but I'm sure you can see where the concerns are. It would be great to see some explicit assurances to give peace of mind before getting behind such an organization.

Btw...was ECA really the best acronym giving it was many of your members who were pushing to call them personal vaporizers just a few weeks ago?

 

[radiokaos]

Ok..the more I think about this, the more I can see how easy it would be to force anti-competitive practices. A list of declarations on what does NOT fall under the power of the ECA would be quite reassuring. Here are just a few:

The ECA will not promote the idea that members products are safer or of higher quality than non-members.

The ECA rules will not be used to restrict marketing outside of the following areas of concern: (list required)

The ECA will not dictate packaging style, packaging size, contents, flavorings or nicotine levels. Any restrictions would be a form of price fixing so this one is quite important.

The ECA will not dictate acceptable models of vaporizers or represent itself as a body to any manufacturer for the purpose of marketing or exclusivity of services.

These are just off the top of my head, but I'm sure you can see where the concerns are. It would be great to see some explicit assurances to give peace of mind before getting behind such an organization.

Btw...was ECA really the best acronym giving it was many of your members who were pushing to call them personal vaporizers just a few weeks ago?

Nuck, I think all of your concerns are valid. But lets be honest. I strongly believe that the bottles of Ejuice that we get right now are not child proof and are barely labeled.

I think the ECA wants to work with all suppliers and are not into promotion of the board members own products or specials. Yes there are only a select few suppliers that are part of the assoc, and I hope to see that change.

I think the ECA will have some hurdles ahead but at least someone is stepping up to the plate. If you or a supplier that has something at stake here then by all mean voice your concerns.

I applaud your concerns and hope they will be addressed.

 

[Nuck]

Nuck, I think all of your concerns are valid. But lets be honest. I strongly believe that the bottles of Ejuice that we get right now are not child proof and are barely labeled.

I applaud your concerns and hope they will be addressed.

I'm a HUGE fan of childproof bottles and prominent warning labels. No supplier should have been shipping without them.

I just want to make sure once the basics are covered they don't plan on controlling flavors, nicotine content, package sizes, 'safety' seals, etc.

Basically anything that could be used as a tool for price fixing or blocking the market from smaller suppliers.

 

[nycsublimegirl]

Nuck, I think all of your concerns are valid. But lets be honest. I strongly believe that the bottles of Ejuice that we get right now are not child proof and are barely labeled.

I think the ECA wants to work with all suppliers and are not into promotion of the board members own products or specials. Yes there are only a select few suppliers that are part of the assoc, and I hope to see that change.

I think the ECA will have some hurdles ahead but at least someone is stepping up to the plate. If you or a supplier that has something at stake here then by all mean voice your concerns.

I applaud your concerns and hope they will be addressed.

I can't speak for the association regaurding specific points, however I can attest that this was formed from a place of public education and safety as well as making sure e-cigs stay readily available in the market place to those of legal smoking age....any measures taken are for that purpose.

 

[MonkeyMonk]

I signed up for the newsletter, and I wish you all the best.

Question: How will this affect the forum with some suppliers being members and others being non-members?

 

[radiokaos]

I'm a HUGE fan of childproof bottles and prominent warning labels. No supplier should have been shipping without them.

I just want to make sure once the basics are covered they don't plan on controlling flavors, nicotine content, package sizes, 'safety' seals, etc.

Basically anything that could be used as a tool for price fixing or blocking the market from smaller suppliers.

Valid concerns, since I'm not a ECA member yet I could not answer those questions.