Thirteen tech groups, including think tanks like TechFreedom and High Tech Forum, called on Congress to pass legislation that would loosen regulations on e-cigarette manufacturers that took effect last year.
The groups are challenging FDA’s deeming rule that requires e-cigarette makers to go through what the coalition considers to be a “lengthy and expensive” application process for products that were not on the market before February 15, 2007.
In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the groups said, “The FDA has reflexively applied the precautionary principle, giving more weight to theoretical concerns about problems that might arise rather than any concrete evidence of harm. In doing so, the agency is depriving smokers of a demonstrably safer alternative out of pure speculation.” The groups became involved in the e-cigarette debate because they view the government regulations as interfering in the development of new technology. Americans for Tax Reform and the free-market think tank, R Street Institute, also signed the letter.The groups said Congress should pass legislation that would change the rules to require applications for products that were not on the market before August 16, 2016, instead of February 15, 2007, as changing the date would have no effect on the agency’s ability to protect consumers and regulate e-cigarettes, while still allowing companies to produce and sell products without going through a cumbersome application process.