WASHINGTON – Powerful House lawmakers from both parties are skeptical of the Food and Drug Administration’s pitch to start collecting fees from e-cigarette companies, similar to how the agency assesses them on tobacco firms.
FDA officials say that the fees, which e-cigarette companies would pay when filing applications with the agency, would give regulators resources to tackle the thousands of illegal vapes lining store shelves. However, lawmakers on the House Energy & Commerce Committee questioned Tuesday whether the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, which has struggled for years to police the vaping industry, has shown itself capable of effectively using those funds.
“I’m the biggest advocate for more resources and more authority, but it’s hard to make that case if we don’t see some progress,” said New Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone, the top Democrat on the committee.
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