Downtown Vapes manufactures and sells 46 different kinds of vape oils for electronic cigarettes. New regulations announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will force manufacturers to register any electronic cigarette product sold after 2007. Registering each product will cost around $1 Million.
"It's very frustrating I've spent countless hours paid and unpaid designing products and designing flavors," said Matthew Candelaria, lab manager at Downtown Vapes.
His work may have a shelf life.
"I have no problem registering the product, but I don’t have the money to do it," added Candelaria.
This means at some point the shop will have to stop manufacturing and selling their unique flavors.
"We’ll have to stock only the flavors that are able to survive the regulations and are able to survive the million plus dollar cost," said Ryan Steets, co-owner of Downtown Vapes.
There has been no regulation on who makes the oils or how. The American Lung Association is among the anti-tobacco advocacy groups that are embracing these regulations.
"We don’t know what’s in these products and for the first time ever within 90 days these e-cigarettes manufacturers and retailers and in some cases one in the same, will need to register with FDA to list out their ingredients," said Erika Sward, American Lung Association.
Downtown Vapes lists their ingredients on their labels. Anti-tobacco advocacy groups say without FDA approval there is no way to verify those ingredients.
Many vapors have reacted negatively to the new regulations. Sheila Noll is upset her favorite flavors may disappear. She says e-cigarettes are the only way she was able to quit smoking.
"I cut down zero nicotine and it really worked better than the patch, better than the gum, nothing had ever got me to quit," said Noll.
Steets says the future of the industry is cloudy.
"It's going to change the industry and it's not going to change the industry for the better," added Steets.
Manufacturers have 90 days to begin the application process. If e-cigarette products are not registered with the FDA in the next 1 to 2 years they will be banned from being sold.