We warned that the new FDA approval process would cost vape liquid makers $1 million for each new and existing product they wanted to sell, that the expenses would cripple the growing industry, and that these regulations would slow or stop many smokers from dropping cancer-correlated cigarettes in favor of the much safer vape devices. And we weren’t the only ones. Earlier this year, Gregory Conley, President of the American Vaping Association, offered a frightening, yet starkly realistic, view of what would happen once the FDA rules went into effect:
“In order for a vapor product to be able to be sold after August 8, 2016, it must be commercially marketed as of that date. This means that after August 8, manufacturers are not only prohibited from releasing new flavors, devices, coils, etc., but they also may not make virtually any modifications to existing products. It is critical that manufacturers (including single shop retailer-manufacturers) understand that any variation of the nicotine level, bottle size, flavor amount, ingredient type, etc. in a current product (i.e., one being marketed on August 8, 2016) will result in a “new” product that will be illegal to sell without preapproval from the FDA.”
FDA Mandates Begin Killing E-Cigarette Businesses, Driving Smokers to Tobacco – MRCTV (blog)