The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association (CASAA) Podcast
From: CASAA
CASAA’s Jan Johnson and Alex Clark discuss legislative- and advocacy-related matters of current interest to CASAA members and THR (tobacco harm reduction) advocates.
0:20 – Federal – Appropriations bill (p. 86) introduced in the House Appropriations Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Subcommittee would prohibit FDA from enforcing the February 15, 2007 grandfather date for newly deemed tobacco products (including e-cigarettes), move grandfather date to issuance of Final Rule for Deeming Regulation (allowing newly deemed tobacco and e-cigarette products now on the market to remain legal, but require FDA approval of premarket tobacco applications (PMTAs) for new products after Final Rule issuance). (See here for a brief discussion of the bill.) This is a similar approach as that offered by HR 2058. We now have two bills that would benefit consumers (and the diverse vapor industry) in the House at this time. Mark-up will be before the full committee on Thursday (June 25, 2015).
Industry groups are reaching out to their business members to encourage them to contact their legislators on the committee to express strong support. For example, Utah Smoke-free Association has a Call to Action for people who live in the district served by Rep. Chris Stewart, who is on the committee, and AVA is reaching out to vendors who are located in districts with a representative on the committee.