The granting of Royal Assent to the Tobacco & Vapes Bill, which means it is now set to become enshrined in law, has prompted further responses from those in the vaping industry.
Eve Peters (left), director of government affairs for supplier Elfbar in the UK, said the news was supported by the brand: “We strongly believe the UK vape market should be properly regulated and support the introduction of retail licensing and the forthcoming vape tax, alongside the placing of vapes behind the counter and appropriate restrictions on packaging and flavour descriptors.
“Crucially, regulation must be proportionate, protecting children while clearly distinguishing between smoking and vaping so as not to deter adult smokers from switching to an effective quit aid.
“With over half of adult smokers already wrongly believing vaping is as, or more, harmful than smoking, disproportionate regulation risks further embedding misperceptions and undermining progress towards a smoke free UK.”
Meanwhile Gillian Golden (right), CEO of the Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA), also broadly welcomed the decision: “The bill brings an opportunity to strengthen the powers of Trading Standards in tackling the illicit trade and illegal underage sales, which is very welcome to the responsible vape industry. There will now follow a series of consultations on secondary legislation.
“It will be important to balance the use of these powers with the needs of adults who can benefit from switching from smoking to vaping.
“The IBVTA looks forward to working positively and progressively with the Government to ensure vaping becomes less accessible and desirable to children, and to adults that would not otherwise be smoking. It’s vital that more smokers understand that vaping is very much safer than smoking, and can help them to quit smoking for good.”
“It puts the burden of enforcement on retailers at a time when retail crime is at record levels and getting worse.”
Chris Price, ecommerce manager at Vape Shop, added: “The bill represents a significant and anticipated change in regulation. We support stronger safeguards, especially regarding youth access, product standards and responsible retailing, to foster a more credible and accountable industry. Regulation should remain balanced to ensure adult smokers can access regulated alternatives to combustible tobacco.
“The bill introduces a more demanding compliance environment, increasing operational costs and complexity, particularly for independent retailers. While responsible businesses will adapt, there is a risk of accelerated market consolidation. Supporting compliant operators and maintaining a focus on quality, safety, and transparency is now even more important.
“This is a pivotal time for the industry to demonstrate leadership. We’re committed to full compliance, including enhanced age verification, a strictly controlled product range and responsible marketing practices. We believe the future of vaping depends on being a transparent, well-regulated category focused on adult smokers.”
There was resistance to the news, however, from campaigners on the other side of the fence. Following the announcement, Simon Clark (below left), director of smokers’ rights group Forest, said they would continue to fights against the ruling: “The new law is absurd and illiberal. It puts the burden of enforcement on retailers at a time when retail crime is at record levels and getting worse.
“It won’t stop young people smoking. Instead, as the age of sale increases each year, it will drive more and more people to the black market. The only people who will benefit are criminal gangs and other illicit traders.
“We will fight on because this is a bad law that undermines individual freedom and will have serious consequences for retailers. We’ll lobby opposition parties and prospective parliamentary candidates to repeal the generational ban following the next general election.
“A similar law was repealed in New Zealand so there’s no reason why the ban can’t be repealed in the UK.”
No comments yet