The American Association of Public Health Physicians (AAPHP) has petitioned the FDA to change the classification of electronic cigarettes to be changed to a Tobacco product and NOT a drug device combination. The FDA has used the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 201(g) and 201(h) to try and control electronic cigarettes. The policy covering these products should be the new FDA/Tobacco legislation as a tobacco product according to the American Association of Public Health Physicians.
The AAPHP is also petitioning the FDA to change their high-ranking press release regarding electronic cigarettes that was issued on July 22nd, 2009. This petition has single handedly damaged the name of electronic cigarettes. The AAPHP has provided proof that the FDA needs to amend this document.
Joel L. Nitzkin, MD, MPH, DPA the Chair, Tobacco Control Task Force, American Association of Public Health Physicians (AAPHP) states that “reclassification of E-cigarettes to tobacco products could open the door to a new harm reduction component to current tobacco control programming. That new component, in turn, could rapidly and substantially reduce tobacco-related illness and death without increasing the numbers of teens initiating nicotine use.” This comes as a blow to the FDA’s statements regarding the safety of electronic cigarettes. Joel Nitzkin also points out that no money from electronic cigarette companies, tobacco companies, or any other source has been provided to them for their research and findings.
There currently are only two categories listed in the new FDA/Tobacco legislation, cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. Electronic Cigarettes do not fit in either of these categories so they request that they be put in a new category of nicotine vaporizers. They are requesting for them to be regulated the same as other tobacco products and warning labels to be put on ONLY for nicotine addiction. Electronic Cigarette Nation has been a strong supporter of certain laws changing regarding electronic cigarettes, such as age requirements and manufacturing requirements. The marketing material should also be regulated to ensure these are not targeting children. The quality of electronic cigarettes will rise and the wide variety of methods used to create the liquids will be consolidated into an approved method. This will increase the satisfaction and safety of electronic cigarette users.
The petition states ethical concerns as well, “FDA priorities are expected to be the protection of the public’s health. Agency decisions are expected to be based on the best available science. FDA should not mislead health-related organizations or the general public as to the health hazard posed by any product. FDA’s current stances relative to E cigarettes, as presented at the July 22, 2009 FDA press conference, fails on all three of these considerations.” As Americans, we trust in our government to be looking out for our best interests for the public. The FDA will need to read, review, and update their press release, which we understand will take time, however it should be posted within a month of acceptance of the science.
The AAPHP suggests that the risk of death would be less than 5% using electronic cigarettes based on the similar nature to other nicotine replacement products on the market today. The chemical Propylene glycol is recognized as safe and used in many products used in the food and drug industry today. The nicotine levels are similar to that of a cigarette according to the FDA’s study. The lives of 4 to 8 million of the current tobacco users could be saved over the next 20 years. The AAPHP believes that the deaths caused by tobacco products could drop to 10,000 a year after 20 years. The current death rate per year is 400,000+ people. These numbers are staggering and reaffirm what Electronic Cigarette Nation has believed this whole time regarding electronic cigarettes.
Most Americans want to quit smoking or know it is bad for them, however replacing the act of smoking is much more difficult compared to getting off the nicotine. Electronic Cigarettes offer multiple levels of nicotine and even a zero nicotine liquid. This could help you phase out the use of nicotine and still enjoy the process of smoking, which would greatly increase your chance of switching from traditional cigarettes for good. 98% of the deaths caused by tobacco related products come from traditional cigarettes.
We applaud the AAPHP for doing this research and providing supporting documents to the FDA. These Doctors approve the electronic cigarette. We suggest you consult your physician today with this document and see what they think. More information regarding this story can be found at the AAPHP’s site.
ECN15ECN15expires 06/30/2013
Blu Cigs and Johnson Creek Enterprises have teamed up to bring a great product to the electronic cigarette world. Now available from Blu is American Made E-Liquid. The electronic cigarette requires a liquid nicotine mix to deliver the nicotine to your body utilizing vapor. Most of the liquids out there have come from China and are not regulated. Johnson Creek is registered with the FDA pursuant to Section 305 of the United States Public Health Act of 2002.
