CASAA Files Affidavit in American Academy of Pediatrics v. FDA Lawsuit

The Right to Be Smoke-Free Coalition (RSF) recently submitted a brief to the federal district court of Maryland, opposing a motion for summary judgment filed by various public health groups in American Academy of Pediatrics v. FDA. The public health groups are challenging the pre-market application deadline extensions given by the FDA for tobacco and vapor products. RSF is not a party to the lawsuit, but filed an amicus (or “friend of the court”) brief defending the compliance period so that vapor product manufacturers have adequate time to prepare compliant applications.

Julie Woessner, National Policy Director for The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association, filed an accompanying affidavit (here) with the court, testifying how the availability of diverse vapor flavors for adult smokers is a public health benefit. Ms. Woessner noted in the affidavit that  “a significant number of our members use more than one flavor or brand of e-liquid . . . we find those making a complete transition from smoking to vaping most often report that finding a non-tobacco flavor was instrumental in helping them distance themselves from their smoking habit, and sampling a variety of different flavors actually served to make vaping more enjoyable than smoking.”

The law firm of Keller and Heckman, LLP, which represents the Right to Be Smoke-Free Coalition, has written an informative article about the case that can be read in full here.