Document ID: FDA-2014-N-0189-34836
Agency: fda
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2014-07-07T04:00Z

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

General Comment:"Hello, My name is Sharon Gipson I have been vaping for about a year now and have seen continuous bombardments of false information and discriminating evidence in the media in regards to electronic cigarettes. Obviously, these falsifications are to promote tobacco companies in order to increase government taxation revenue due to the decline in tobacco sales due to the increasing popularity of eCigs. 
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 by allowing me to quit smoking regular cigarettes which are loaded with hundreds of carcinogens. My son has also quit smoking cigarettes by using an e-cig.  
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 am extremely grateful to live during the time of electronic cigarettes. I would have continued smoking until either I died from smoking or ended up killing another individual due to second hand smoke. Please take time to read the following statements and keep in mind how critically important the decisions made now are and how it will affect future lives, including those of your own personal friends and families."
I appreciate your consideration of my request and am happy to discuss this issue with you further.