

Comment Info: =================

General Comment:Dear Mr. Zeller:

I am contacting you as an individual consumer requesting an extension of the comment period for the Food and Drug Administration's Proposed Rule Deeming Tobacco Products to be Subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the Family Smoking and Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (the "Proposed Rule") published at 79 Fed. Reg. 23,142 and Federal Register No. 2014-09491. On my own behalf, I am requesting that the comment period for the Proposed Rule be extended from its current 75-day period for an additional 105 days, to 180 days.  This additional time is crucial for me as a consumer.

The Proposed Rule raises many significant issues and questions that are extremely relevant to me, as a consumer of products that are proposed for regulation under the Proposed Rule. The Proposed Rule asks about a hundred different questions I very likely would want to provide comments for. However, my time to devote to researching and providing thoughtful comments on these important questions is limited.  I know that the FDA has taken years to come up with the Proposed Rule, so it is not at all unreasonable to allow the public a mere six months to comment on this important issue. This is our only opportunity as consumers, to provide our feedback.

I feel very strongly about the significance of the electronic cigarette as an alternative to combustible tobacco cigarettes.  I firmly believe that they helped save my health, if not my life. I wish to provide you with my personal story, as well as scientific and evidence-based responses to your questions so that you can take my comment into consideration. 

I realize that the FDA has the authority under 21 CFR 10.40 to extend this time frame and that the FDA has exercised this authority in the past. I would therefore ask that you do so here, so that all who have a stake in this issue can provide their comments on this proposed regulation.

I appreciate your consideration of my request and am happy to discuss this issue with you further.

