Since unveiling the regulations May 5, FDA officials have downplayed scientific studies that show e-cigs and vaporizers have the potential to be 95 percent less harmful than traditional cigarettes, while claiming “there is ample evidence” to support its public health harm claims.

“Although the FDA recognized that completely switching to e-cigarettes may reduce the risk of tobacco-related disease for individuals currently smoking conventional cigarettes, it found that e-cigarettes still pose a number of significant health and safety risks,” the FDA said in its response filed Wednesday.

“Nicopure does not disclose its actual ingredients for its e-liquids, so what consumers are really inhaling is largely unknown.”

The FDA claims that because most e-liquids are used in refillable devices, even if the original liquid used contained no nicotine, there is no guarantee that subsequent e-liquid use will be nicotine free.

The FDA claims Nicopure has shown no proof of being harmed by the new regulations because it did not assert that its nicotine-free e-liquids are intended to be mixed with liquid nicotine.