UKVIA Forum to discuss major tax and regulation changes
UK vapes industry leaders will gather next week to debate the impact of the new tax on products and to discuss how new vaping rules can protect consumers and responsible retailers.
The UKVIA Forum, being held in London on Monday 13 July, will call for regulation that supports consumers and the legal vape trade while clamping down on black market sales.
The event will include sessions focusing on everything from the impending Vaping Products Duty (VPD) and environmental responsibilities to the importance of flavours and how the sector can make the most of the electoral weight of the UK’s five million vapers, with guidance on engaging with MPs.
The forum will bring together senior industry figures, government agencies, parliamentarians, regulators, public health specialists, retailers and consumer experts. Themed “Making vaping policy work best”, it comes as businesses prepare for the upcoming VPD and the prospect of new regulations covering flavours, packaging, advertising and in-store displays via the Tobacco & Vapes Act.
VPD will be a central focus of the event, with a number of sessions examining its likely consequences on businesses and consumers, and preparations businesses must make ahead of October.
The opening panel, “Adding up the true cost of the Vaping Products Duty”, will explore new research into the potential effects of the tax on consumer behaviour, smoking cessation, stop smoking services and the illicit market. This will be followed by a special one-to-one session with UKVIA director general John Dunne and HMRC, providing businesses with guidance on the operation of VPD which takes effect from October 1.
Dunne said: “The vaping sector is approaching a defining moment where VPD, combined with extensive new regulation, will fundamentally change the environment in which responsible manufacturers, distributors and retailers operate. This is such a critical time for the industry that we moved the Forum forward from November so we could have meaningful discussions ahead of VPD implementation.
“The UKVIA has always supported proportionate regulation and the Forum will allow us to debate how we can work together to help ensure that emerging policies can best support the key objective of helping adult smokers move away from cigarettes.
“Good regulation must protect young people, tackle illegal sellers and maintain high standards without making vaping less accessible or affordable for adults who rely on it as an alternative to smoking. This event is an important opportunity for the legitimate industry to help make sure policy works in practice.”
Full details of the forum and a link to obtain tickets can be found at https://ukvia-forumfeed.co.uk/
