OPINION: Khan review was positive, but vaping industry faces serious challenges ahead – John Dunne, director general, UKVIA

If there were any worries that vaping wasn’t perhaps getting the recognition it deserves for helping the UK on its way to becoming a smoke-free society, then they were blown away by the recent Khan review into our nation’s smoking policies.

Vaping was highlighted as one of four “critical recommendations” that the government must implement if it wishes to meet its target for the UK to be smoke-free by 2030. Dr Khan stated that one of the most vital ways the government can get its ambitions for a smoke-free society back on track is through greater promotion of vaping and the UKVIA.

At the launch of the review, its author, Dr Javed Khan OBE, said: “The government must embrace the promotion of vaping as an effective tool to help people quit smoking tobacco. We need to do more to promote its use in quitting, while also doing more to protect children and young people from starting to vape.”

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Here at the UKVIA we couldn’t agree more. But we’d go further than just preventing children’s access to vape goods. We’d make the punishment for anyone selling counterfeit or non-compliant goods far harsher than it is currently. Tackling rogue vape traders, preventing underage access to e-cigarettes and creating a sustainable vaping industry will be among the topics of debate at our Vaping Industry Forum and Exhibition at the QEII Centre in Westminster, London in November.

The conference, Vaping for a Better Future, will also look at how the sector can maximise its public health, economic and social impact. I don’t think there’s been a more exciting time for our industry – but that’s not to say we don’t face huge obstacles in the coming years through the linked challenges of rogue traders selling potentially harmful non-compliant products, and youngsters getting their hands on vapes.

So, while vaping presents a huge public health, economic and social opportunity for the nation, there are a number of potential pitfalls that the industry has to face up to and try to navigate.