Statement by American Vaping Association President Gregory Conley on today’s Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing on electronic cigarettes and the deeming regulation:
“At today’s hearing, Senator Tom Harkin (D – IA) continued his tradition of making misleading and unsubstantiated claims about manufacturers, retailers, and consumers of vaping products such as electronic cigarettes. Of all the false claims made by Senator Harkin today, his accusation that electronic cigarettes are marketed with flavors to appeal to children is the most reprehensible. This rhetoric comes despite the fact that a recently published survey of adults found that flavors are regarded as extremely important by many smokers who have become ex-smokers thanks to the use of vaping products.”*
“During the course of their testimony, both the FDA’s Mitch Zeller and CDC’s Dr. Tim McAfee correctly stated that it is combustible tobacco that is responsible for the vast majority of tobacco-related disease and death in the United States. Moreover, both admitted that there is still great amounts of research to be done into smoke-free nicotine products such as electronic cigarettes.”
“While we thank Senator Lamar Alexander (R – TN) and Senator Richard Burr (R – NC) for their insightful comments and questions during the hearing, there are still many questions and concerns left unanswered. The AVA urges its members to continue to oppose the FDA deeming regulation and the disastrous impact it would have on consumer choice and public health.”
* Farsalinos, K.E.; Romagna, G.; Tsiapras, D.; Kyrzopoulos, S.; Spyrou, A.; Voudris, V. Impact of Flavour Variability on Electronic Cigarette Use Experience: An Internet Survey. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2013, 10, 7272-7282.
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/10/12/7272
About the American Vaping Association
The American Vaping Association is a nonprofit organization that advocates for fair and sensible regulation of vapor products, otherwise known as electronic cigarettes, with the goal of maximizing the number of adult smokers who use these products to quit smoking. The AVA was founded by Gregory Conley, a consumer and industry advocate with a long track record of advocating for vapor products dating back to 2010.
We are dedicated to educating the public and government officials about public health benefits offered by vapor products, which are battery-powered devices that heat a liquid nicotine or nicotine-free solution and create an inhalable vapor. The AVA is not a trade group and does not speak for any particular businesses, including our industry sponsors.
You can learn more about AVA and vaping by visiting the AVA website. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.
