URGENT - FDA needs comments!!

[Brewlady]

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO SUBMIT A COMMENT TO THE FDA.

Non-Face-to-Face Sale and Distribution of tobacco Products and Advertising, Promotion, and Marketing of tobacco Products.

FDA has released public commentary material for several parts of tobacco product regulation development. Due Date DEC 8, 2011

Regulations.gov



FDA has released public commentary for Regulations Restricting the Sale and Distribution of Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco to Protect Children and Adolescents (Amends Brand Name Provision). Comments due by January 31, 2012.


http://www.fda.gov/downloads/TobaccoProduats/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/UCM280094.pdf

 

[frosting]

Hopefully this was a good comment!! I used every darn character I could just about!






I feel that yet another regulation to tobacco is going overboard.Laws are already in place and more and more regulation I feel is beating a dead horse.It is not the government's place to contuineally try to protect people from themselves.While I appricate sendiment to protect children and teens, that is the parent's job at the end of the day not the government.Actions out of fear should not be completed.

Minors know very well tobacco is harmful. School health classes teach this on a regular basis, anti-smoking ads reflect off the T.V., many peers shun others when they see cigarette use. Most new parents these days focus on quitting(if they smoke) and teaching their children how bad tobacco is. I know quite a few new parents personally to say this. It is not the 40s or 50s anymore when people truly used tobacco out of ignorance. It kills me to see my country going so backwards.

If this regulation is to do because of electronic cigarette use that would be atrocious. It is my greatest hope that is not the scenario. I would hope the government and FDA are better then to assume an electric cigarette is the same as a tobacco cigarette filled with 4,000 chemicals. To compare one to the other as the same thing is true lunacy as they are as different as night and day.

As recent electronic cigarette user myself I know they should not be the concern at all. They do not have the carcinogens that actual smoked tobacco cigarettes do. The majority of sites who cater to electronic cigarette users have those buying confirm they are 18 years old.Vendors also hold themselves typically to a very high standard as they often use the device themselves.The industry is doing the right thing without having being asked to, so a regulation upon them is not necessary.

May this not fall on deaf ears, as I write with genuine concern of the direction my country is going. It is time to restore America to "The Land Of The Free"

 

[MaxUT]

Your Comment Tracking Number: 80f7ac71

LIVE FREE OR DIE

 

[mooreted]

Crud, I have to go to work. I'll try to find something intelligent to put up there. My first reaction tends to be a bit grumpy, so I'll think about it first.

 

[StotheK]

I threw down my comments as well, and of course will be trying to push everyone I can into commenting.

Here's what I had to say in case you're curious.

I can only specifically talk about e-cigarettes as that is my area of expertise. I report on news surrounding the industry at a website I run www.SteveVape.com. Because I follow news surrounding e-cigarettes very closely, I have some insight into reported usage of the devices by minors.

Anecdotally, according to a number of reports in the media and surveys administered by groups within the industry itself, e-cigarettes are not appealing to minors. The primary market for these devices are older smokers who are seeking an alternative they feel is preferable to cigarettes.

Some examples of reports showing minors have not adopted the technology include:
Battle of the Vapors

Store owners say curb on e-cigarettes would have little impact - Boston.com

Some school leaders say they have not yet pursued ban on 'e-cigarettes' | MLive.com

https://www.surveymonkey.com/sr.aspx?sm=HrpzL8PN5cP366RWhWvCTjggiZM_2b8yQJHfwE9UXRNhE_3d

Furthermore, I have interacted with a number of sellers of these devices. None target minors in their advertising efforts nor willingly sell the devices to minors. Most online vendors also require buyers verify their age prior to purchase.

Additionally, regulation could potentially have the undesirable side-effect of putting small businesses out of business. Many of the sellers of e-cigarettes are small operations that do not have physical storefronts. Prohibiting non-face-to-face sales would be catastrophic to companies like this.

Finally, media sites which cover the industry, much like my own, rely heavily on advertising within the industry. The loss of the ability to sell advertising on these sites would also be catastrophic and result in a number of journalistic outlets being forced to shut down.

 

[vaporbird]

What should I put put as my organization?

 

[StotheK]

You can probably put "self" if you're posting as a consumer.

 

[MaxUT]

I'll try to find something intelligent to put up there. My first reaction tends to be a bit grumpy, so I'll think about it first.

I made mine grumpy but I tried for intelligent!

 

[MaxUT]

What should I put put as my organization?

I put "United States of America".

 

[dordas23]

Your Comment Tracking Number: 80f7aec5

Bite me, Big Brother. No, I phrased my comment much more politely than that.

 

[Rath]

I commented as well though I am doubtful that it will do much good.

 

[MaxUT]

First you have to get their attention. Did you include the words wrote, congressman, budget, cuts ?

 

[DC2]

Thanks for posting this Brewlady!

 

[mooreted]

First you have to get their attention. Did you include the words wrote, congressman, budget, cuts ?

Should probably add the words election, and voters too.

 

[mooreted]

Your Comment Tracking Number: 80f7aef2

Good luck

 

[samuelmunro]

This reeks of prohibition in fancy new clothes, They should either man up and impose a total ban on tobacco, and derivatives. (Which they cannot afford to, for tax reasons) or leave it be as is.

 

[MaxUT]

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[Skwerl]

Done and done:
Remember to whom you work for. These are senseless and wasteful regulations that do not quantify your budget, nor your function particularly in regards to recent bacterial contamination of foodstuffs: remember the peanut butter, e coli lettuce and cantaloupes. I think it would be wiser to direct your energies and our resources to ensuring the safety of our food & medicine supply- not to mention excellent PR. Considering all the ill will felt toward extremely large and zealously regulatory agencies such as yours; would it not be wiser to not treat your employers- the American people like mindless piggy-banks?

 

[Imagine]

done... bump

 

[MaxUT]

If we don't push back, federal bureaucrats will end up regulating every minute detail of our daily lives. Since it would be impossible for a normal person to be informed of all these rules, it would be impossible to avoid violating them and then being subject to fines and penalties at the whim of government agents. "Ignorance of the law is no excuse" is a statist's creed, not that of a free citizen.