

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

General Comment:Dear Mr. Zeller:

I am 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 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.  I’ve already begun researching and documenting my opinion, but the sheer number of questions this regulations pose are vast. The current 75 day period is simply too short to adequately formulate an educated response which is why I am requesting the extension of time. It took the FDA years to develop this proposal, so I don’t think it’s out of line to give the public 6 months to develop our responses.

I feel very strongly about e-cigarettes as an alternative to combustible cigarettes. My parents were both smokers, and I grew up in a household were smoking was always present. I lost my Mother to lung cancer, and I have watched my Father quit smoking through the use of an e-cigarette.  I want to share their stories as well as my evidence and research so that you can take my comments into account. 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.


