John Dunne, UKVIA Director General, said:
“Just before I gave evidence to a Scottish Parliamentary Committee today, ASH Scotland tried to have me cancelled. Despite vaping being the most effective way to quit cigarettes, by some margin, ASH Scotland find their commitment to getting rid of cigarettes conflicted by Sheila Duffy’s irrational dislike of vapes.
“ASH Scotland’s accusations are grossly inaccurate and out of date. They are fully aware that the UKVIA has no tobacco companies as members and that those companies with vape subsidiaries who were previously members, left in September 2023. The UKVIA receives no funding from the tobacco industry and has stated publicly that it would not accept any tobacco companies as members in the future. However that does not deter Sheila Duffy from calling for the Scottish Government to stringently avoid the views of the vaping industry.
“Luckily the Scottish Government were happy to question me today and there was much constructive debate on issues such as vape packaging and flavours. Vaping is probably the most important smoking intervention tool to have ever come on to the market and is responsible for millions quitting their deadly habit. ASH Scotland would do well to follow their UK-wide colleagues at ASH, in welcoming the benefits of vaping as the most effective method of quitting cigarettes available”.