As I write this column, I am heading back from the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester where there had been intense media speculation about vaping and trains in the run up to the event.
Rumours that the Prime Minister would axe the northern leg of the HS2 high-speed rail line turned out to be true.
However, speculation that he would also use his Conference address to announce a ban on single-use (disposable) vapes were (as my sources confidently predicted) totally false.
Rishi Sunak did take the opportunity to propose a New Zealand-style plan to create a ‘smokefree generation’ by ending cigarette sales to those born on or after January 1, 2029.
Vaping Consultation
The PM also announced a consultation on restricting disposable vapes and regulating both flavours and packaging to reduce youth uptake.
The UKVIA has long called for the MHRA to be able to examine product design and packaging as part of the approvals process, so this is a step in the right direction.
We are very concerned about talk of restricting flavours as a wide range of flavours are vital to give vapers the variety they need to prevent them returning to cigarettes.
The UKVIA also welcomes the government’s announcement to strengthen enforcement activity by investing £30M to allow Border Force, Trading Standards and HMRC to ‘tackle the import of illicit tobacco and vaping products at the border’ – another initiative the UKVIA has urged the government to introduce for years now.
We also want on the spot fines of £10,000 for those selling vapes to children or illicit or illegal products to people of any age and a vape licensing scheme to fund the ongoing enforcement activity is needed to ensure that retailers remain on the right side of the law.
UKVIA Forum
The issues arising from the Prime Minister’s Conference address, and more, will be discussed at our annual Forum which takes place on Friday November 10 at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London.
We have an amazing lineup of speakers and the Forum is followed by our annual Industry Recognition Awards which, this year, has 16 categories (up from 10 last year) and a 16-strong independent judging panel.
The Forum is one of the key events in the UK’s vaping calendar and attracts delegates from a wide cross section of industries.
For example, last year there were senior executives from the vaping industry together with MPs, government advisors, public health professionals, regulators, enforcement organisations, think tanks, researchers, product and service providers and the investment community.
There are currently a limited number of tickets available for both the Forum and the Awards Dinner and you can book tickets via our website at https://www.ukvia.co.uk/forum2023/
I would also like to thank our Headline Sponsor Chubby Gorilla, together with all of our sponsors and event partners for their support in helping us make the Forum and Awards Dinner the industry event of the year.
Global Vape Alliance
And finally, I am delighted that the UKVIA is part of the new Global Vape Alliance which has been set up to effect responsible and positive change on a global scale.
The Global Vape Alliance brings together four major international vaping bodies: the Electronic Cigarette Industry Committee of the China Electronics Chamber of Commerce (ECCC), the US Vapor Technology Association (VTA), the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) and the Independent European Vape Alliance (IEVA). Find out more at https://globalvapealliance.com/
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