UKVIA Submits Comprehensive Evidence to DHSC’s Call for Evidence on the Tobacco & Vapes Bill

Over the past two months, UKVIA has worked intensively with members to produce a detailed, evidence-led response to the Government’s Call for Evidence on the Tobacco & Vapes Bill. This has been a major piece of work, driven by a dedicated working group of UKVIA members, bringing together expertise from across the sector. Members contributed data and frontline experience, helping us build a unified and responsible submission at a crucial moment for the future of vaping regulation. 

The central point we make in our submission is that regulation must strengthen vaping’s role in harm reduction, not make it harder for adults to quit tobacco. That means a simple and enforceable product-registration model that supports Trading Standards, robust but workable testing and manufacturing standards aligned with international best practice, and clear, evidence-based rules that protect adults’ access to the flavours and products they rely on to quit smoking and stay smoke-free. We have also been clear that enforcement must be directed at illicit sellers and non-compliant imports, not the responsible companies who comply with the rules and invest in quality products.  

This submission is only one aspect of our work across Parliament. As the Tobacco & Vapes Bill moves through both Houses, UKVIA is engaging closely with MPs and Peers to ensure the debate is informed by evidence. We have been providing detailed briefings, meeting parliamentarians across all major parties and highlighting the practical challenges faced by compliant businesses trying to operate responsibly in a market that is being undermined by illicit activity. 

Alongside this parliamentary engagement, we are working directly with ministers and officials as the Government develops the Bill. Once the legislation is passed, the implementation phase will be critical. UKVIA will continue working with the Government on the secondary regulations and technical guidance that will shape how the new system operates day-to-day. Our aim is to ensure that responsible businesses are protected, regulation remains proportionate, enforcement is focused where it matters, and – most importantly – adult smokers continue to have access to vaping as a cessation tool and a core public-health prevention model that the government is also striving for. 

This is a pivotal moment for UK harm-reduction policy. UKVIA will continue working hard to ensure that the voice of responsible industry is heard clearly and constructively as the Government moves from gathering evidence to detailed policymaking and implementation.