Tag: UK

UKVIA Separates Itself From Tobacco Firm Funding

British American Tobacco, Imperial Brands, Japan Tobacco International and Philip Morris International are no longer members of the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) the organization has announced.
In a statement from the UKVIA, the industry advocacy group states that it will no longer include any tobacco companies within its membership. It also will not be accepting any new applications for membership by vaping businesses wholly or part owned or acquired by tobacco companies moving forward.
The trade body states that “the interests of the industry would be best served by the association being independent of any involvement or funding from tobacco-owned vaping brands”.
It hopes to dispel “misconceptions” that the group is funded largely by tobacco companies and to overcome any potential restrictions tobacco companies may face when engaging with key stakeholders in the move to smokefree, according to media reports.
“In representing vaping-only businesses, many of which are independent firms founded on the back of personal loss of family members as a result of smoking combustible cigarettes, the UKVIA wants to be fully engaged with key stakeholders across the board as we have the same vision, which is to make smoking history,” the release states. “The association sees this as being a vital step in ensuring that the public health potential of vaping is fully realized and the sector making its fullest contribution to the delivery of the smoke free targets over the next few years to 2030.”
September 2, 2023
Study Finds Flavors Helps Smokers Quit Smoking

Credit: Юлия Кравченко
Recent research suggests that people are more likely to quit smoking combustible cigarettes by vaping if they receive help choosing the right flavor, plus supportive messages.
The Addiction journal recently published a study conducted by London South Bank University (LSBU) that involved 1,214 eligible participants who were heavy smokers and expressed interest in quitting by using vapes. The researchers recruited these participants through social media.
They then tested five remote interventions aimed at helping people switch—mostly online surveys that produced recommendations based on individual responses, reports Filter. The interventions were: “tailored device selection advice; tailored e-liquid nicotine strength advice; tailored e-liquid flavor advice; brief information on relative harms; and text message (SMS) support.”
“Simple tailored advice on selecting a flavor along with supportive text messages could increase quit rates by 55 percent.”
By offering different groups of participants different interventions (including all, or none of them), the study sought to determine which combination was most effective.
“In the adjusted model,” the researchers concluded, “the only significant interaction was a two-way interaction, advice on flavor combined with text message support, which increased the odds of abstinence [from cigarettes].”
August 13, 2023
More Vapers Could Save U.K. Half A Billion Pounds

Image: Tobacco Reporter archive
The U.K. National Health Service (NHS) could save over GBP500 million ($636.9 million) annually if half of England’s adult smokers switch to vaping, according to a Brunel University London report.
“If smokers transitioned to RRPs [reduced-risk products], it would significantly reduce the pressure on the NHS and free up much-needed hospital resources for other treatments,” said Francesco Moscone, professor and business economics expert at Brunel University London and study author. “Under a 50 percent conversion scenario, with half of smokers turning to RRPs, the NHS would save an estimated [GBP]518 million in an average year. If the conversion rate was just 10 percent, the NHS would save [GBP]103 million.”
“We are delighted that this new research from Brunel University London reinforces the findings of our own economic impact report,” said John Dunne, director general of the U.K. Vaping Industry Association, in a statement. “The potential savings to the NHS from smokers switching to vaping are enormous, and at a time when the NHS is desperately crying out for more funding and government budgets are squeezed so tightly, this is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss.
“I sincerely hope that these two reports will give the government more impetus to really push the positive impacts that vaping has for the health of our nation and the finances of our country.
“Only last week, ASH [Action on Smoking and Health] revealed shocking data, which showed that four in 10 smokers wrongly believe vaping is as or more harmful than smoking—up from one in five in 2019.
“Misinformation in the mainstream media about the relative health risks of smoking and vaping was one of the reasons given for this increasing lack of knowledge, and unless the government acts to educate smokers about the real risks, then lives will continue to be needlessly lost.”
“Cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the five main disease categories caused by smoking cigarettes. Such illnesses put significant burdens on the NHS, which we know is already under increasing pressure,” said Moscone. “Although the long-term effects of RRPs are still unknown, we know from previous research that alternatives to traditional cigarettes result in a 90 percent reduction in the exposure to chemicals that are major contributors to health risks.”
The study was published in the British Journal of Healthcare Management.
August 9, 2023
U.K. Black Market for E-Cigarettes Continues to Grow

Credit: Yehuda
If you start to look for something, you will usually find more than when you weren’t looking. Seizures of illegal e-cigarettes in the UK in the first four months of the year were seven times as high as all of 2021.
Research found the UK has been flooded with two million illicit e-cigarettes since the beginning of last year, reports The Mirror.
Local leaders have called for a more vigorous crackdown on counterfeit vapes, with usage is said to be surging among children and adults.
London, the South East and North West were the top three regions for counterfeit vape seizures, according to the analysis.
The findings, uncovered through freedom of information requests sent to 167 local authorities by VapeClub, raise concerns about a booming black market selling products that do not comply with UK regulations and have not been through appropriate safety testing.
“Illicit vaping products have the potential to be dangerous to the user’s health. What’s needed is a licensing scheme so proper age verification tests can be applied to every retailer,” Dan Marchant, director of vaping and e-liquids retailer Vape Club, said.
“There must also be higher fines applied to every breach for the rogue sellers. The UK Vaping Industry Association is calling for the fines to be raised to at least £10,000 ($12,800), which would be a real deterrent.”
July 8, 2023
Supreme Shares Soar After ElfBar Distro Agreement

Credit: 88Vape
UK vaping giant Supreme saw its shares rise shares five percent yesterday after the company announced it is now the “master distributor” for UK e-cigarette brands, although the company has reported weak annual profits.
The firm has been chosen as the master distributor for two leading UK vaping brands, ElfBar and Lost Mary, which it will supply to major UK retailers such as Tesco, Morrisons and WHSmith Travel.
The London-listed company expects the partnership to generate revenues of £25m to £30m ($38 million) over the next fiscal year ending March 2024, according to media reports.
This comes amid a political crackdown on vape products – especially for those under-age.
Sandy Chadha, CEO of Supreme, said the “sizeable” appointment will allow the group to “fully leverage its unique technical, regulatory, compliance and quality assurance capabilities within the vaping sector.”
“We have seen a hugely positive response from both established and new retailers who view Supreme as an ideal partner to supply these products across the UK,” Chadha added.
Supreme says their strong market presence, distribution network, and compliance capabilities provide ElfBar and Lost Mary with a “readymade blueprint” distribution strategy.
The company will report its sales performance separately from the existing vaping category, which includes their own 88Vape brand.
It comes as Supreme posted a record performance in their vaping division this morning, with nearly doubled revenues up to £76.1m from £43.6m last year, and an £8.6m increase in gross profit.
£76.1 million (FY22: £43.6 million) and increasing gross profit to £28.1 million (FY22: £19.5 million)
In 2023 they ramped up investment in M&A and capital expenditures by £7.5m to “support future growth”.
“As we look to the future, we remain committed to expanding our product set, both organically and via acquisition,” Chadha commented:
July 6, 2023
UK Motor Group Calling for Ban on Vaping While Driving

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A motoring group in the United Kingdom is calling for the government to change laws on vaping and driving. With vaping at record levels, motoring experts at LeaseCar.uk are calling for an urgent ban on smoking e-cigarette devices when behind the wheel, according to an emailed press release.
In the UK, it is a legal requirement to drive with due care and attention, and the experts at LeaseCar.uk say there is no way people can adhere to this standard of driving while vaping. Aside from causing drowsiness and dizziness, the devices emit vast clouds of smoke, which restricts vision, making it impossible to be aware of surroundings, the release states.
“Drivers not in complete control of their vehicle could receive penalties such as an unlimited fine, 9 points and a discretionary disqualification,” the release states. “In extreme cases, if someone is injured or killed due to careless driving, they could be jailed.”
In the UK, the only current law around smoking and driving is that it is illegal to smoke with someone under 18, but this doesn’t apply to vaping. Tim Alcock from LeaseCar.uk said that it is only a matter of time before there are more fatalities on the road due to vaping.
“There has been growing concern over the effects of vaping, but we do know that there are high levels of nicotine in the devices, which is highly concerning from a driving point of view,” he said. “E-cigarettes that contain nicotine cause dizziness and lightheadedness, which is highly dangerous, putting both the driver and other road users at risk.
“It is appalling that drivers are still allowed to vape with children in the car given the immediate dangers on the road and long-term medical side effects which are still being researched. Not only that, as people puff at the devices, the vast clouds of smoke create a massive hazard as it blocks and restricts vision. We are calling for the government to make urgent changes to current motoring offenses and consider just how dangerous vaping at the wheel is.”
June 26, 2023
UK Pediatricians Call for Ban on Disposable Vapes

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) in the UK has called for a ban on disposable e-cigarettes, stating that vapor products can be just as addictive as traditional cigarettes, according to Metro.
“Since e-cigarettes have only been on sale in the UK since 2007, long-term studies don’t yet exist,” the RCPCH said. “We have even less evidence on the long-term impacts of these products on young lungs, hearts and brains.
“It took experts decades to fully understand the impact of traditional cigarettes; we cannot risk our children’s health in waiting this long again for longer-term studies.”
Action on Smoking and Health data found that there has been a 50 percent increase in UK kids trying vaping over the last year and a rise in experimental vaping among 11-year-olds to 17-year-olds.
“Without a doubt, disposable e-cigarettes should be banned,” said Mike McKean. “There is absolutely no reason that these cheap, readily available, brightly colored, recreational products should be single use.
“Westminster’s approach to this problem is out of step with even our closest neighbors, with countries such as Scotland, France, Germany and Ireland all seriously considering a ban.”
In response to the RCPCH’s call, the U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) stated that while youth vaping needs to be addressed, banning disposables is not the answer.
“There is no doubt that strong, targeted action directed at those illegally selling vape products to children is the way forward,” said John Dunne, director general of the UKVIA, in a statement. “Vitally, any youth prevention measures cannot be to the detriment of adult smokers looking to quit through vaping and vapers who want to avoid a return to smoking.”
June 7, 2023
UK Government Under Fire for Support of Juul

Credit: Nawadoln
The government in the United Kingdom has been criticized for its “completely inappropriate” endorsement of Juul vaping products. Many organizations blame the manufacturer for fuelling an “epidemic” of underage vaping in the U.S.
Juul Labs was promoted in an official briefing circulated by the Department of Health and Social Care about the prime minister’s plan to close a loophole allowing free samples to be given to children, according to media reports.
The press release – which included quotes from Rishi Sunak, England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty and health minister Neil O’Brien – portrayed the company as a leader in combating youth vaping, saying it “takes steps to ensure its products do not appeal to and are not used by anyone who is under age, and encourages others in the sector to do the same.”
It also included a quote from Joe Murillo, a former tobacco executive and chief regulatory officer at Juul Labs, in which he praised the UK government’s policy and called for more to be done “to combat underage use of these products”.
The briefing – which was sent to journalists before the policy was announced publicly – appears to have directly resulted in positive media coverage for Juul, with Murillo’s quote republished by four national newspapers.
June 5, 2023
UK Lawmakers Under Fire to Ban Disposable Vapes

Credit: Arie Studio
Pressure is mounting against UK lawmakers to impose an outright ban on single-use vapes, amid concern about their rising popularity among youth and doubts over regulators’ ability to control the fast-moving sector.
A government call for evidence on vaping and young people in England is due to end on 6 June, with action expected on measures to clamp down on illegal vape sales, as well as the marketing and placement of relatively cheap single-use vapes.
One government official said the latter was a particular worry. They said: “Some of the marketing and branding is pretty appalling – it can look like a sweet shop.”
Some health groups have wider concerns about the approach of the government, set out by the junior health minister Neil O’Brien in a speech last month, to encourage vape use as a substitute for traditional tobacco products, with a planned “swap to stop” scheme offering a million smokers in England a free vaping starter kit.
They argue that the relatively short history of e-cigarettes means there is minimal knowledge about long-term health effects, and that evidence about their efficacy as methods to stop smoking is similarly limited, pointing to countries such as Australia, which permit them only on prescription, according to The Guardian.
The most immediate battle is likely to be fought over single-use vapes, now the chosen product for more than half of young people who use e-cigarettes.
May 28, 2023
Veolia Launches UK-based Vape Collection Service

Credit: Chepko Danil
Resource management company Veolia has launched a national vape collection service to help provide safe disposal and recycling routes for the three million vapes currently thrown away in the U.K. each week.
Veolia states it can now facilitate the collection and transport of vaping products from retailers to a recycling facility to extract the valuable materials, including lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese, inside.
The recycling of these items could save more than 10 tons of lithium that could be recycled into new products from the batteries, which would save up to 72 tons of carbon emissions compared to using raw materials, as producing one ton of lithium from ore produces around nine tons of CO2 emissions, according to Scottish Local Retailer.
Collections will be scheduled according to demand and in order to store and transport these materials safely, Veolia will provide retailers with individual containers of vermiculite, a mineral that will minimize fire risks from the lithium-ion batteries contained within the vapes.
“Two vapes are thrown away every second. They might be called disposable, but they can and should be recycled,” said Donald Macphail, Chief Operating Officer – Treatment at Veolia UK, said. “Our new nationwide vape collection service will provide a safe recycling avenue to retailers who provide the mandatory take back schemes for vapes and ensure that we can extract the valuable materials contained within, and mitigate any fire and environmental risks.”
April 27, 2023