John Dunne, Director General of the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), said:
“We support action to tackle the proliferation of garish vape shops that can make parts of our high streets look more like amusement arcades, with excessive lighting, inappropriate displays and little regard for the communities in which they operate.
“Responsible retailers have no interest in seeing these types of businesses continue to open unchecked, which is precisely why the UKVIA has consistently called for a robust and vigorously enforced licensing scheme for the vaping sector. A properly designed licensing system would help councils and enforcement agencies target inappropriate and non-compliant operators while raising standards across the industry.
“However, it is vital that specialist vape shops are not caught up in a blanket crackdown. Traditional vape retailers employ knowledgeable staff, comply with the regulations and provide an important service to adult smokers who are looking to move away from cigarettes.
“For many smokers, specialist vape shops provide the advice, product knowledge and ongoing support that can help them make that transition successfully. They are responsible local businesses and should not be treated in the same way as rogue or inappropriate operators.
“The detail of how these new planning powers would work in practice will therefore be crucial. We would welcome the opportunity to work with Government and local authorities to ensure the measures are properly targeted, protect high streets from unsuitable premises and allow responsible specialist vape retailers to continue serving adult smokers in their communities.”
