Document ID: FDA-2014-N-0189-58398
Agency: fda
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2014-07-31T04:00Z

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

General Comment:To whom this may concern:

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 that are relevant to me, as a consumer of some products that are included for regulation under the Proposed Rule. I want to provide my thoughts and comments on some of these issues, but my time to devote to researching and providing thoughtful comments on these important questions is limited. I know that the FDA took many years to even come up with the Proposed Rule, so it is not unreasonable to grant the public at least six months to comment on it. This is our only opportunity, as consumers, to have our opinions and testimonies heard by those who ultimately call the shots.

I feel very strongly about e-cigarettes as an alternative to combustible cigarettes. I firmly believe that e.liquids have added years to my life, my husbands life (we made the switch together,) and they have definitely saved our 5 year old son from having to use an inhaler and an increasing number of breathing machine treatments as a result of our second hand smoke. 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. 

Thank you for your time and consideration.