Vaping industry trade association, UKVIA, has written to the Prime Minister to complain about comments made by Public Health Minister Andrea Leadsom to the Tobacco & Vapes Bill Committee.
The committee is considering evidence in relation to clauses that make up the Bill as it passes through Parliament. Leadsom was responding to the idea of a licensing scheme for vape retailers, a proposal she gave short shrift.
She said: “It is a licence for the vaping industry to get rid of the competition, make loads more money and focus even more on addicting children to vapes. It is the most cynical of all the cynical proposals I have seen. I am literally in no way in support of a licensing regime. I see lots of nods around the room; I hope that my personal view is clear and am glad that it seems to be shared by a number of honorable Members.”
UKVIA has been advocating a licensing scheme that would be entirely funded by the vape industry, handing Trading Standards upwards of £50m a year to effectively police underage and illicit vape sales.
Earlier this year the sector shared a comprehensive framework for a vape retailer and distributor licensing scheme with parliamentarians. The development of the scheme had involved consultation with the industry and other stakeholders, including representation from Trading Standards.
John Dunne, UKVIA Director General said the reaction to Leadsom’s comments from many leaders in the UK vaping industry was one of “consternation and anger”.
He said: “Enforcement of the laws, which are in place to protect young people from vaping, has failed to date due to lack of investment by the Government, so the only way to deal with the matter once and for all is to equip Trading Standards with the resources to police retailers.
“As to the Minister’s comments on the licensing scheme they are false and completely inappropriate. They are disrespectful to the legitimate independent vaping industry that wants to do the right thing.”
Dunne said that contrary to Leadsom’s “ludicrous and unfounded” statement that the vaping sector wants to use a licensing scheme to further its own ends, “it wants to eradicate the black market which is our greatest competition and represents most risk to children and adults – and we’re willing to bankroll it to the tune of £50m plus.”