According to a report by The Hill, the House Appropriations Committee voted Tuesday to exempt all electronic cigarettes and cigars currently on the market from the review process required by rules being finalized by the FDA.
The FDA deeming rules would, for the first time, impose regulations on the e-cigarette industry, along with several tobacco products not currently regulated.
Under the FDA’s proposed rule, electronic cigarettes and cigars that hit stores after Feb 15, 2007, would have to go through the new product approval process.
However, the House committee approved a bipartisan amendment proposed by Rep Tom Cole (R-Okla) and Rep Sanford Bishop (D-Ga) that would exempt the requirement for any device or product already on the market from going through the Pre-Market Tobacco Application (PMTA) process.
Supporters of the amendment, including the e-cigarette industry, feared the majority of e-cigarettes would be taken off the market until they pass the PMTA process, which could shutter small vaping companies.
The long term effects of e-cigarettes remain to be realized, however the inhaling of unknown or even known foreign substances could be unhealthy and costly not only to patients but the health care system. Once again Congress gets it wrong. Its a lot less expensive to pay for the prevention and education than to pay for the results later when peoples health fails as a result of inhaling toxic materials. Further taxing an over burdened health care system.
While I understand they are trying to make it easier on the small companies that e-cigarettes have produced, I still think that they should have to go through the regulation testing and at least put the information out there for the consumers. We don’t know the long term effects of these yet. We need to know what is in them for when someone gets sick. Not to mention when kids get a hold of them and drink the liquid, we need to know what treatments will work to save them.