U.S. Vaping Association Chair Says FDA Rules Could Drive 99% of E-Cigarette Businesses Bankrupt

The U.S. FDA regulations require that e-cigarette products launched after February 15, 2007, must undergo an expensive pre-market tobacco product application process. Recently, a policy amendment regarding this regulation failed to pass in the House of Representatives. The chair of the U.S. vaping association stated that the implementation of this regulation could threaten 99% of e-cigarette businesses with bankruptcy.

According to a report from the American media outlet The Libertarian Republic on November 14, the comprehensive spending bill released by the House of Representatives that evening showed that a policy amendment that could have saved the e-cigarette industry did not pass. 

This amendment was a modification to the FDA regulations, which originally required that e-cigarette products released after February 15, 2007, must undergo expensive approval processes, placing a huge burden on small businesses. 

In response, Gregory Conley, chair of the American vaping association, said, "This agreement protects the cigarette market, and congressional leaders wasted a real opportunity that would have benefited public health and small businesses nationwide." 

Conley also stated, "If the 2007 regulations are not changed, 99.9% of the e-cigarette products currently on the market will be banned. The FDA's proposal is a complete disaster, and if Congress does not take action, it will lead to job losses and loss of life." 

It is estimated that if this regulation is formally implemented, it could lead to the bankruptcy of 99% of the e-cigarette industry, affecting thousands of jobs and negatively impacting healthy competition in the e-cigarette market.