

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

General Comment:Dear Mr. Zeller:

I’m writing as an individual consumer to request an extension of the comment period for the Food and Drug Administration's ("FDA") 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 behalf of myself, I respectfully request that the comment period for the Proposed Rule be extended by the FDA for an additional 105 days, from its current 75-day period, to 180 days.

I’m a consumer of products (e-cigarettes) that are proposed for regulation under the Proposed Rule, which raises a number of significant issues and questions that are important and relevant to me.  The Proposed Rule asks nearly a hundred different questions I might want to respond to.  I would like to provide my thoughts and comments on many of these issues, but my time to devote to researching and providing thoughtful comments on these important questions is limited. I have already spent many hours researching and dissecting these issues, but they take time.  I know that the FDA took many years to even come up with the Proposed Rule, so I do not believe it is unreasonable to allow the public a mere six months to comment on it.  This is our only opportunity, as consumers, to provide our feedback. 

I feel very strongly about e-cigarettes as an alternative to combustible cigarettes. As a 2-pack/day heavy smoker for over 40 years, I was finally able to quit after switching to e-cigarettes in February, 2009.  Quite simply, I firmly believe that they saved my life.  I would like to provide you with my personal story, as well as science- and evidence-based responses to your questions so that you can take my comment into account.  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 on numerous occasions in the past.  I am asking that you do so here, so that all stakeholders have the opportunity to provide their comments on this proposed regulation.

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

Sincerely,
