

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. The Proposed Rule asks about a hundred different questions I might want to respond to. I want 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 think it is at all 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. 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 understand that there is a Real need to Regulate E-Cigarettes, but after Reading the 241 pages I find Little that will Help the Industry Grow. Besides Limiting by age and Childproof bottles I read these "Deeming Regulations" as  nothing more than a Take over by the People who Can afford to Apply for new Products.  I hope that you Do Listen to The Consumers that are effected by these and Not the  Industries that you are already involed with. CASAA speaks for me and SFATA  speaks for the Vendors I spend Money with and Create Jobs that are in Dire need in this Country. Please hear Us when we try to get Reasonable Standards that will Take the Smoking rate down in Large Chunks and Not Nibbles that have been in the Past Generation.
I appreciate your consideration of my request and am happy to discuss this issue with you further.
