Document ID: FDA-2014-N-0189-5919
Agency: fda
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2014-06-17T04:00Z

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

General Comment:Dear Mr. Zeller:

As an individual consumer I would like 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 an overwhelming number of significant issues and questions on which I would like to comment. However, the current deadline makes it very difficult for consumers like me to do the research to provide thoughtful, accurate feedback based on reliable data. Given that the FDA took years to release the  Proposed Rule it seems quite reasonable to allow the public at least six months to comment on it. This is our only opportunity, as consumers, to provide our feedback. 

E-cigarettes allowed me to immediately and painlessly quit my two and a half pack a day cigarette habit of over four decades when other methods failed miserably so being able to provide worthwhile comments on the Proposed Rule is something that is desperately important to me personally. It is my hope that you will allow me as well as other consumers a reasonable amount of time to provide my personal story with e-cigarettes as well as fact-based comments on the many issues The Proposed Rule raises for me as a consumer. It is my understanding that 21 CFR 10.40 gives the FDA the authority to grant an extension request for the comment period and that the FDA has granted such requests on numerous occasions in the past. 

Thank you for your consideration.