FDA e-cigarette plan brings complaints from both sides
From: The Boston Globe
Keep Calm and Vape On,” a sign behind the counter in David Bershad’s Newton electronic cigarette store proclaims. But proposed federal regulations for e-cigarettes have him fired up.
“I hope there’s going to be some uproar,” said the co-owner of Vape Daddy’s, who plans to encourage customers to contact the Food and Drug Administration. “I’m sure going to stir it up.”
The FDA proposal unveiled Thursday would bring e-cigarettes and their ingredients under the agency’s review for the first time and ban sales to minors. Bershad, who already imposes age restrictions, supports the FDA on both counts.
But he worries about some obstacles e-cigarette makers would face under the new rules, including being barred from contending, without scientific evidence, that their products are safer than cigarettes. And he bristles at a ban on free samples, which draw customers to stores such as his with the incentive of free testing of e-cigarettes and sampling flavors.
