UKVIA Monthly Bulletin - September 2024

UKVIA 2024 Forum Update

On 15th November, at London’s Marriott Hotel Regents Park, vaping industry leaders from around the world, leading politicians and other commentators will gather for the UKVIA’s 2024 Forum. Tickets are now on sale and some sponsorship opportunities are still available. More information can be found here.

This year’s theme is ‘The Changing Vaping Environment – Succeeding in a New Policy Landscape’ to reflect what needs to be done against a backdrop of unprecedented regulatory change.

We are delighted again to have a great list of speakers and panellists. The Forum will be looking at topics such as what needs to be done to combat the UK’s vape black market and how government and regulators can unlock the full public health potential of vaping, while protecting young people.? We will also be looking at the latest innovation in the sector and how technology is working to overcome the industry’s challenges.

For more information on tickets or sponsorship, head here.

UKVIA welcomes growing support for vape licensing proposals

In a debate on youth vaping in the House of Lords earlier this month, Baroness Merrion voiced her support for introducing a vape licensing scheme. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care said the government was ‘actively considering’ such a scheme.

The UKVIA has long supported the introduction of vape licensing to fund a nationwide Trading Standards enforcement programme to clamp down hard on rogue retailers who sell illicit products or sell to those under eighteen.

During the debate into vaping use by children, Baroness Walmsey asked: “Will the government consider the impact of [the] lack of enforcement and introduce a licensing system with substantial fines for those who sell vapes without a licence and for all outlets who sell to children, as well as any unlicensed vaping products?”

Baroness Merron replied: “Licensing may well be beneficial for strengthening enforcement, supporting legitimate businesses, deterring rogue retailers and ultimately supporting the mission of improved public health. It is an area that we are actively considering for inclusion in the [Tobacco and Vapes] Bill.”

UKVIA Director General John Dunne said: “We have been calling for a robust and effective vape licensing scheme – backed up by fines of at least ￡10,000 for those who sell for children – for years now but this fell on deaf ears with the previous Conservative administration. Such a scheme could generate upwards of ￡50M per year to fund a much-needed national Trading Standards enforcement programme at no cost to the Treasury.

“The Sunak government tried to rush through the Tobacco and Vapes will without proper debate and I am very much encouraged at the message given by Baroness Walmsey. I am delighted that serious thought is being given to amending the proposed legislation to include vape licensing so that youth vaping can successfully be tackled and the focus of vaping can once more return to helping adult smokers quit.

“I look forward to meeting with ministers to discuss this and other ways to close the loopholes that allow illegal products to enter the supply chain here in the UK.”

Global Vape Alliance brings industry leaders together in its campaign for tobacco harm reduction

One year after its founding, the Global Vape Alliance (GVA) met in Dortmund, Germany?to sign a declaration, renewing its commitment helping millions quit cigarettes and improve their health. With members from the U.S., Europe, and China, the GVA reviewed the regulatory and business environment in their respective regions and hosted a networking event for over 200 industry leaders and CEOs that were attending InterTabac in Dortmund at the weekend.

The GVA supports consumers in switching from harmful cigarettes to less harmful vaping products, aiding global public health efforts. The Alliance focuses on youth protection through responsible marketing. It strives to balance accessible alternatives for smokers with ecological concerns, helping evolve tobacco control policies.

The Global Vape Alliance is a significant stride towards achieving these goals. The leaders of vaping industry associations from all over the world are coming together, in order to promote communication and cooperation on best practices that will better serve their members and consumers. In order to achieve this goal, the Global Vape Alliance will continue to cooperate on five critical issues: regulation compliance, industry promotion, public health, environment protection and the engagement against the black market.

New UKVIA members

September saw a further three companies join the UKVIA: Exhale Vape co is a vape retailer that sees membership as the best way to keep in the loop on industry developments; OK Vape, set up ten years ago, sees collaboration as critical in maintaining the highest standards across the industry; and finally e-Vapor, who see membership as the best way to have a voice at the table as the government considers potential legislation on vaping.