E-cigarettes represent a shining beacon of hope in the fight against tobacco-related morbidity and mortality, yet from a regulatory perspective they are invariably treated as tobacco or medicines – two things they are most certainly not. There is no therapeutic claim and no tobacco. The FDA is likely to deem e-cigarettes as tobacco products, and therefore attempt to regulate something with the potential to prevent over 400,000 deaths per year in the United States under rules designed for the cause of those deaths. Researchers, experts and concerned users see this as an unjustified approach. Instituting such rules would be nothing short of legislative malpractice.

We urge lawmakers to: