Page 5 - TOB Magazine March/April 2013

14
TOBACCO OUTLET BUSINESS
MARCH/APRIL 2013
NEWS & TRENDS
E-Cig Consumers Petition White House
The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association hopes to prevent the U.S.
Food & Drug Administration from enacting “unnecessary, burdensome regulations.”
On behalf of electronic cigarette
consumers, the Consumer Advocates
for Smoke-free Alternatives Association
(CASAA) posted a petition on the
White House’s petition web site urging
action to prevent the U.S. Food & Drug
Administration (FDA) from enacting
regulations that could effectively ban
the sale of many e-cigarettes. Filed
on January 14, the petition reached
the 25,000 signatures required for a
White House response within a few
weeks, reports Elaine Keller, president
of CASAA, a non-profit, volunteer
organization formed in 2009 by
e-cigarette consumers to promote
tobacco harm reduction policies.
“The FDA first tried to remove all
e-cigarettes from the market by calling
them ‘drug delivery devices,’” she
says, explaining CASAA’s concern.
“Having failed in their attempt to ban
e-cigarettes, the FDA has announced
its intent to propose a ‘deeming’
regulation to apply Chapter IX of the
Family Smoking Prevention & Tobacco
Control Act to e-cigarettes. However,
portions of Chapter IX would essentially
ban all e-cigarettes from being sold and
other provisions would decimate the
e-cigarette industry, protect cigarette
markets and otherwise threaten public
health.”
While Keller said that she and most
tobacco harm reduction experts and
advocates are not optimistic about
receiving a markedly different response
from the White House or the FDA on
this petition, which marks the second
attempt to spur action on the issue,
CASAA is still encouraging people to
sign the petition.
“CASAA believes the petition will
help heighten awareness about the
upcoming FDA public comment
period, which is expected to be opened
after the FDA announces its intended
regulations sometime around April,”
she says. “It will be imperative that
consumers submit comments at that
time.”
Harm
Reduction
Update
General Cigar Debuts Web Site
Cigar maker’s new site offers an interactive lifestyle platform.
Akin to a virtual cigar lounge, General
Cigar’s Cigar World web site (www.
cigarworld.com) provides a forum
where cigar lovers can recommend
and rate cigars, voice their opinions in
a discussion forum and comment on
non-cigar content. “Consumers who
visit Cigar World will experience our
cigars in a vibrant digital environment
that aims to deepen engagement in
the premium cigar category,” says Alan
Willner, General Cigar’s vice president
of marketing. “The site was created to
celebrate the allure of premium cigars
and related indulgences, in a format
that encourages participation and social
activity.”
Cigar World debuted with a number
of new features, including a virtual
humidor completewith a photo sharing
feature and an education section that
reflects General Cigar’s time-honored
approach to cigar making. The site
also provides users with access to
resources such as a retail locator and
event calendar, powered by Google
Maps.
A highlight of Cigar World is the
on-site digital magazine called CW
World. It features entertaining and
informative articles written by influential
editors from luxury and men’s lifestyle
publications. Content includes articles
on wine and spirits, electronics, sports,
apparel and more, and will be updated
frequently.
With intuitive navigation, rich
content and a modern aesthetic, Cigar
World continues to be a resource for
detailed information on General Cigar
Company. Quick and easy access to the
company’s extensive portfolio of cigars
is presented alongside profiles of the
company’s artisans.
To celebrate the launch of the site,
General Cigar is running a contest called
the “30 Days of Giveaways” through
March 13.