Abboud addressed the Committee (PDF) on behalf of the numerous struggling vaping businesses, and took the opportunity to explain the current state of affairs and how the imposed regulations had nothing to do with concern for public health. “The problem is that the entire basis upon which the current law was promoted is essentially a ruse; a fiction created to justify the imposition of a security firm monopoly.” he said.
“Many of our member companies are manufacturers of e-liquids and vapor devices that sell in all 50 states, that is until the passage of Indiana’s current law which created a monopoly by giving ONE security company the power to choose which handful of companies it would permit to do business in Indiana.” he added.
Fighting for the vaping industry to survive and thrive
The VTA is a national trade association that executes integrated federal lobbying, state lobbying, and public affairs strategies to advocate for all sectors of the vapor industry. It represents manufacturers, wholesalers, and both small and large business owners thanks to whom current smokers could have access to effective smoking cessation aides.
Abboud pointed out how the vaping industry in Indiana is mainly made up of small businesses, who went from facing a promising future to being crushed not only by the FDA’s regulations but also by the legislative action which took place in the state. He then went on to mention in great detail how the agency’s deeming rule is affecting these businesses and the repercussions they are facing because of it.
An opportunity to right the wrongs
The VTA’s legislative director added, that in 2014, the FDA’s center for tobacco products director Mitch Zeller, being an avid anti-smoking advocate himself had repeatedly pointed out the benefits of electronic cigarettes. “If we could get all those people [who smoke] to completely switch all of their cigarettes to non combustible cigarettes, it would be good for public health.” he said during a senate health, education, labor and pensions hearing in 2014. Abboud continued by saying that this is an opportunity to right the wrongs that have been taking place, and give the vaping industry the opportunity to survive and thrive.
