Lawmakers in Ascension County, Georgia, US, want the state’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve the creation of a registration system for e-cigarette products to make it clear to retailers and consumers which products are legal and which are not.
Huston Gaines, a lawmaker in Ascension County, Georgia, USA, wants the state’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve a registration system for e-cigarettes so that retailers and consumers can be clear about which products are legal and which aren’t, Wgauradio reported on 20 February.
Gaines showed some illegal smoke products at the conference that the FDA has not approved, so Gaines believes Georgia should not approve them either.
“Consumers don’t know what’s legal, what’s not legal and what’s approved by the FDA. It’s important for consumers and retailers to know that the products they’re getting have been regulated and approved by the FDA,” Gaines said.
As a result, Gaines has drafted a bill that would create an official registry of all FDA-approved or pending smoke products. It would be maintained and published by the state department of agriculture. Any product not on that list could not be legally sold in Georgia.
Dillon Gilbert, an e-cigarette shop owner, believes this bill will destroy their industry. “I own e-cigarette shops in Savannah and Columbus,” Gilbert said. “We want common sense regulation, but unfortunately this bill will be a death blow to our industry.”
But Gaines insists the bill will help prevent smoke products laced with fentanyl or THC from hitting the shelves. “You want to make sure you’re using a product that has been tested and approved without putting your life at risk. You can find examples of smoke bombs that have fentanyl or THC that have led to the deaths of young people,” Gaines said.
Under the bill, any shop caught selling these unapproved smoke products could face serious fines and possible suspension of their business licence.