ALEXANDRIA, Va. – What do the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Deeming Regulations mean to retailers? Don Burke, senior vice president with Management Science Associates Inc., answered questions related to the popular NACS Show education session during yesterday’s NACS Show Speaker Chat: “The Impact of FDA Deeming Regulations on the C-Store Tobacco and Vapor Business.”

“There are no changes since the session in October,” Burke said, adding that resolution of a court case heard five months ago was expected soon. “Right now, no decision from that case means the Deeming Regulations stand as written.”

Burke pointed out that a similar case is scheduled to go to trial in July, “which suggests that we should hear something this year about whether there will be any changes to the regulations.” Regardless of the outcomes from the two cases, Burke anticipated that “these deeming regulations will take effect for the next few years.”

One retailer participant has begun to pare down the product lines to those offered by major manufacturers. “That’s a safe move, as it certainly prepared you for the future” when products by smaller tobacco or vapor companies might not be available, Burke said.

Another retailer asked about the best way to merchandise electronic cigarettes. “Typically, retailers will have an e-cig section,” Burke said. “But in addition, counter displays by the register in particular drive incremental sales.”

This week, the NACS Show Speaker Chats concluded.