Should E-Cigarettes Be Treated the Same as Traditional Cigarettes for Regulation Purposes?
From: BB&Knowledge
Author(s): G. Ross Trindle, III
In a clear sign that the debate on the use of e-cigarettes continues, the Santa Monica City Council unanimously approved an ordinance recently restricting the use of “electronic smoking devices” in the same way as traditional cigarettes. Because two shops operated prior to the enactment, Santa Monica had to grant the businesses exemptions or “grandfather” status, which will allow in-store smoking or “vaping” to occur, also known as a legal non-conforming use. Santa Monica represents another California municipality that has, for now, decided to treat e-cigarettes the same as traditional tobacco cigarettes.
In his opinion on CNN.com, founder and CEO of E-Cigarette Forum, and co-founder of Vaping.com and the E-Cigarette Summit, Oliver Kershaw says that a similar stance by the FDA in the issuance of federal regulations will harm competition. Citing an estimated 5,000 hours per application for the approval of new electronic smoking devices by the FDA — with each product requiring a separate application and approval — Kershaw argues that “only 25 products among thousands currently available would eventually be” permitted by the FDA because of the cost associated with such an onerous approval process….
