Why so many members take issue with the FDA

[KenD]

I've only seen one thread questioning the questioning of FDA, and that post was polite and fairly reasonable. The responses to the OP of that thread, however, where in some cases quite vicious. I don't live in the US so I haven't familiarized myself too much with the whole FDA discussion, but polite discussion is always to prefer over namecalling.

 

[bosun]

When you realize that your mother will lie to you if she feels that it would be in your best interest, where does that put every one else?

 

[Bronze]

Nice thread Lion.

Glad someone is taking on the FDA. I trust no gov't agency. FDA included...for all the reasons you point out.

 

[Rocketpunk]

This is Putt's Law in full force:

Putt's Law: Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage and those who manage what they do not understand.

See Ghostbusters for an example of the federal government meddling in affairs they know nothing about.

 

[RobinBanks]

I work with the FDA on a daily basis. My entire existence at work revolves around pleasing the FDA so they cannot fine us. They are a money-making machine and believe me when I tell you they will rule according to whatever is in their best financial interest.

 

[Bronze]

I work with the FDA on a daily basis. My entire existence at work revolves around pleasing the FDA so they cannot fine us. They are a money-making machine and believe me when I tell you they will rule according to whatever is in their best financial interest.

And therein lies the purpose of all government agencies. They exist for the primary purpose of removing money from our wallets or gaining political control.

 

[Myrany]

To put it simply I take issue with the FDA because I do not trust the FDA. Over the years I have watched them botch way too many things for me to ever trust them without proof they are right. As of now on the subject of e-cigs most actual scientific studies are on our side as vapers. We will see which studies the FDA decides to roll with, actual science or propaganda and fear mongering.

 

[Robino1]

Fear mongering lines their pockets, truth takes away from the cash cow.
If people don't need, or quit using, the 'approved' quit methods, who's pockets are no longer being lined?

 

[wv2win]

As far as I'm concerned, pipe tobacco is taxed as a food. I hope that the FDA does the same to eliquid. However, it was ruled as a tobacco product, so it can't be banned unless tobacco is banned.

If they apply the "deeming" regulations to vaping, it might as well be an out-right ban. As CASAA has pointed out:

It's important to fully understand under what law and rules the FDA intends to regulate. Regulating e-cigarettes under the FSPTCA possibly could automatically remove most, if not all, e-cigarettes from the U.S. market as "unapproved new tobacco products." Because of the FSPTCA rules, all new tobacco products must show substantial equivalency for market approval or have been marketed prior to February 2007. Getting market approval if you weren't on the market prior to the cut-off date could prove to be more expensive and complicated for the average e-cigarette company to handle. It could leave us only with the type of e-cigarettes on the market prior to that date - cigarette-styles with pre-filled cartridges, only tobacco or menthol flavors and a low nicotine maximum.

Therefore, if the FDA simply deems e-cigarettes to be tobacco products regulated under the same rules as other tobacco products subject to FSPTCA, it would require most e-cigarettes currently on the market to stop selling and go through an expensive and time-consuming approval process. This is why many consider it to be a de facto "ban" if the FDA regulated e-cigarettes under FSPTCA without making considerations unique to the e-cigarette market.

 

[unquiet]

I don’t want to live in a world without the FDA. They have done many, many good things and saved countless lives but I’m not going to hang on their every word and follow them like a blind sheep. I don’t trust their thinking (or lack of) on the vaping issue. Decisions should be based on facts and genuine concerns not propaganda and payoffs. This article says it pretty well. Why Is The FDA Shielding Smokers From The Good News About E-Cigarettes? - Forbes

Agreed.
And awesome article.

 

[Uma]

The FDA had a chance, back in 2007/8 to thoroughly study and set things straight. But they instead chose to do the opposite. They studied them & next proceeded to do the chicken little dance. The sky is falling!! Carcinogens, antifreeze, formaldehyde, stay away, we must make these a drug delivery device, let big Pharma have the reins. It's been a fight ever since, cleaning up their hyperbole of misinformation and more.
WHO & the FDA made quite a racket.
E-cigarette History

 

[soba1]

would like to keep the content of this thread strictly to what the FDA is doing with vaping

the sad truth is the only reason they are doing what they are doing with vaping is they have been getting away with it
in every other area

the truth is what is happing to vaping is only a symptom of a larger disease

if all you do is win the battle with vaping and lose the larger picture there are worse things ahead

Whats happening with vaping and all the other nonsene that is going on, all this has done was awaken a sleeping giant.
People are waking up and getting tired of BS, at least thats my hope.

 

[soba1]

I know its off topic.
But the shift is occuring everyone.
Goodbye Tobacco, Hello Stevia, Say Tobacco Growers - Yahoo

 

[EddardinWinter]

The FDA had a chance, back in 2007/8 to thoroughly study and set things straight. But they instead chose to do the opposite. They studied them & next proceeded to do the chicken little dance. The sky is falling!! Carcinogens, antifreeze, formaldehyde, stay away, we must make these a drug delivery device, let big Pharma have the reins. It's been a fight ever since, cleaning up their hyperbole of misinformation and more.
WHO & the FDA made quite a racket.
E-cigarette History

Thank you for that link. This background is an important building block in the structure that is the dysfunctional, feuding, and acrimonious relationship that exists between vapers and the FDA. While simply cleaning up the website and correcting some of the more blatant assertions there would not fix things, it would be a start. Nearly all reconciliations begin with a good faith gesture.

How can I trust a regulatory agency that is posting this sort of hogwash?

 

[Anjaffm]

The FDA had a chance, back in 2007/8 to thoroughly study and set things straight. But they instead chose to do the opposite. They studied them & next proceeded to do the chicken little dance. The sky is falling!! Carcinogens, antifreeze, formaldehyde, stay away, we must make these a drug delivery device, let big Pharma have the reins. It's been a fight ever since, cleaning up their hyperbole of misinformation and more.
WHO & the FDA made quite a racket.
E-cigarette History

Thank you very much for the link, Uma!

In Europe, FUD "articles" in the media love to scream to this day that "the FDA found nitrosamines in e-cigarettes.. blather blather".
It is very interesting to read the history, indeed.

We may also wish to consider that this is 2013 - and a lot of development has been taking place in the e-cig market since 2009.
Development with regard to hardware and to liquids. Most of it driven by customer demands and feedback. Which is the way a market works.
Development, by the way, which would never have taken place if the FDA had had its way.

 

[Uma]

You're very welcome! I hope they bring it up to date soon. There's a whole lot of entries missing since Aril 2012

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

I have written variations of these two statements many times, but they're worth repeating.

The FDA will probably punt two weeks from today, just like they've done every six months since the Soterra decision smacked their asses in 2010.

If you don't like the policies being crafted, then change the politicians who are crafting them.

 

[Robino1]

I have written variations of these two statements many times, but they're worth repeating.

The FDA will probably punt two weeks from today, just like they've done every six months since the Soterra decision smacked their asses in 2010.

If you don't like the policies being crafted, then change the politicians who are crafting them.

That would mean booting out the whole government and starting from scratch.

 

[CaliforniaGirl]

If you don't like the policies being crafted, then change the politicians who are crafting them.

We can try (and I'm quite sure most of us do), but don't forget, each of us adds up to only one vote. That can add up to a lot, but then again it can add up to a lot on the opposing side of a given issue/given candidate. Sometimes, you're just overruled, period.

It frustrates me sometimes when people say "Well, you voted so-and-so in." I did? Most of the time, not! Sometimes, majority rules, and then we have to deal with that. Such is life.

 

[CaliforniaGirl]

That would mean booting out the whole government and starting from scratch.

Exactly. "Just vote people out" or "just put in your vote" isn't such an easy answer.