

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

General Comment:Dear Mr. Zeller:

There are a great many things that the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") has done to benefit countless numbers of people, and has increased the quality and length of life for the general population, not only in the United States, but all around the world. I would like to do my part to help the FDA continue to accomplish this goal as an individual consumer. I believe that as a nation, the public along with the FDA, we will continue to make this nation a healthier place to live.

I am writing to you to request an extension of the comment period for 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 am requesting 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.

The Proposed Rule raises a number of significant issues and questions that are important and relevant to me, as a consumer of products that are proposed for regulation under the Proposed Rule. The Proposed Rule asks a great many questions that I would be very interested in answering. I feel that it is my duty 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 this takes time. I am aware that the FDA took many years to even come up with the Proposed Rule, therefore I do not believe it is at all unreasonable to allow the public a mere six months to comment on it. This is our only opportunity as consumers that we will ever have to provide our feedback. 

I feel very strongly about e-cigarettes as an alternative to combustible cigarettes. Quite simply, I firmly believe that they saved my life. I wish 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 would therefore ask 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.

Joshua L. Harbert

