PRESS RELEASE: New Coalition Chaired By Richard Burr Formed to Respond to Illegal Vape Market Crisis

Representing regulated manufacturers, retailers and distributors, Regulate Smarter seeks to address the emergence of the large-scale illegal market through common sense reforms that can restore order to the marketplace

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In response to the flood of illegal and unregulated tobacco and nicotine products in the U.S, a broad group of regulated manufacturers, retailers and distributors are today launching the “Coalition for Smarter Regulation of Nicotine” (Regulate Smarter) to advance a modern, common-sense approach to regulating nicotine products. Chaired by former U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Regulate Smarter will advocate that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) adopt a science-based regulatory framework to establish a well-regulated marketplace that continues to drive underage use down and meets the growing demand among adult tobacco consumers for proven less-harmful nicotine products.

Regulate Smarter’s members include: Altria, the American Petroleum and Convenience Store Association, the Convenience Distribution Association, Energy Marketers of America, JTI Liggett, the National Association of Convenience Stores, the National Association of Tobacco Outlets, New England Convenience Store & Energy Marketers Association, the Northeast Wholesalers Association, Reynolds American Inc., and the Southern Association of Wholesale Distributors.

“This unique coalition gives regulated industry the opportunity to speak with one voice on the reforms needed for FDA to seize the opportunity to become a more effective and science-based agency in regulating nicotine products,” said Senator Burr, a former Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. “Fully harnessing the potential of innovation and the next generation of lower-risk smokefree products requires an FDA committed to authorizing less harmful products for sale to adult tobacco consumers seeking to avoid cigarettes, and rigorous enforcement of the law to prevent illegal foreign manufacturers from smuggling millions of illicit products into the U.S. It’s time that FDA step up to the plate and become an effective, science-driven regulator.”

Regulate Smarter will focus on advocating for common-sense changes that can reverse the tide of illicit products, provide millions of adult tobacco consumers with the proven less-harmful products they seek, and ensure all regulated industry members are complying with the laws and regulations that are crucial for continuing to drive down underage use. Regulate Smarter’s priorities include:

• Accelerating and streamlining how FDA authorizes innovative, smokefree nicotine products – so adult consumers can find the products they seek in the legal marketplace;

• Rigorously enforcing the law to reverse the tide of illicit vapor and other products flooding the U.S. market from China and elsewhere;

• Using regulation and oversight of all industry members to continue driving down underage use;

• Educating adult smokers on the benefits of switching from cigarettes to FDA-authorized, smokefree products.

Regulate Smarter’s web site is available here https://www.regulate-smarter.org/

According to FDA statistics, more than 30 million adults in the United States still smoke combustible cigarettes. Today, 85% of vapor products are unauthorized.

Established by the bipartisan Tobacco Control Act of 2009, the CTP operates within the FDA regulating the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of tobacco and nicotine products.

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The Coalition for Smarter Regulation of Nicotine (Regulate Smarter) is comprised of members representing manufacturers, distributors, and retailers committed to operating responsibly within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-regulated marketplace. Regulate Smarter supports an FDA regulatory system that delivers on the original harm reduction vision of the Tobacco Control Act. Chaired by former U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), the Smarter Coalition is committed to advancing a modern, common-sense approach to regulating tobacco and nicotine that is grounded in science. To learn more, visit: https://www.regulate-smarter.org/