Document ID: FDA-2014-N-0189-77730
Agency: fda
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2014-08-28T04:00Z

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.

There are many rules and questions raised and I have not had the time to answer them.  I may be a little late in my comment but I'm hoping that in commenting it will make a difference for not only myself but others like myself in how we feel about the e-cig industry.  My time is very limited as I'm commenting on the last day but had made an effort to make one more voice count.  I have never filled anything out like this before so me commenting on this issue is a big deal for me.

I have been using e-cigarettes as an alternative to combustible cigarettes since December of 2012 and felt so strongly about the products that I dropped my planning of opening up my own restaurant.  I had prior work history in restauranteur since 2007 leading up to one years worth of planning in 2011 to open my restaurant.  I picked up an e-cigarette in hopes of cutting down on combustible cigarettes and for once in my life things were looking brighter.  I cut down on combustible cigarettes.  I was feeling better.  My body felt better.  My response time in action and decisions were faster.  I felt like a better and healthier person.  I truly believe that without e-cigarettes my life would be much worse than if it was never introduced to me.  I felt so strongly behind e-cigarettes that I dropped all my restaurant plans to open up a e-cigarette store because I wanted to share with others how e-cigarettes helped me.  As time went on, new products started to show up in the industry.  These new products better help not only myself but others like myself in staying away from combustible cigarettes.  These new products help with customizing a right fit for those looking for a way out of smoking.  Some people have been addicted to combustible cigarettes for so long that limiting products available to those my have a big impact on leading them back to combustible cigarettes.  I firmly believe that e-cigarettes saved not only my life, but my loved ones, my friends, my family, and everyone else who needs a way out of combustible cigarettes.

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.