Speaking up for vaping

The UKVIA has been working hard to advocate the potential public health impact of vaping to government, MPs, peers and public health bodies.

Activities have included:

Appearing as a witness before the Health and Social Care Committee in the House of Commons, as part of the inquiry into youth vaping. You can see the recording of our evidence here.

Providing industry submissions to key consultations, including the UK Government’s Youth Vaping Call for Evidence, which can be viewed here as well as the Scottish Government’s review of the environmental impact of disposable vapes, which can be found here.

Directly engaging with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), as well as executive agencies including Public Health England (PHE) and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), on the importance of promoting vaping products to smokers and key industry challenges.

Undertaking wider stakeholder engagement by liaising with and briefing key bodies and organisations, including the Local Government Association, Cancer Research UK, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, Chartered Institute of Trading Standards, and many more.

Leading the way on preventing under age sales of vape products

The UKVIA has teamed up with Trading Standards in a drive to prevent the under-age sales of vaping products across the country.

The Association with the support of Buckinghamshire & Surrey Trading Standards has published the Underage Sales Assured Guide – the first of its kind published by the vaping industry.

Despite regular use of e-cigarettes amongst youths remains low, the vaping industry has taken the initiative with the publication of the guidance for retailers to ensure everything possible is being done by shops and online retail operations to stop the sale of vape products to minors.

The Guide covers current vaping age legislation in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; use and best practice enforcement of the Challenge 25 rule; and dealing with the issue of proxy purchasing where an adult buys on behalf of someone under 18. It also advises on different forms of ID that can be accepted and methods of deception to be aware of; as well as points to consider with digital age verification.

Please see link to the Guide here

Supporting the international vaping sector

The UKVIA has been supporting trade bodies and vaping industries in a number of countries on policy and regulatory matters, including Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, Canada, Ireland and South Africa.

The Association has regular meetings to discuss key issues arising with the likes of Vape Business Ireland, Independent European Vape Alliance and VITA in Canada.

Political & Regulatory Activities