Trade body UKVIA has called out the Tobacco and Vape Bill Committee for failing to invite industry experts to give evidence, adding that proposed legislation for the disposable vapes ban is not facing “proper scrutiny” before a third reading.

The Tobacco & Vapes Bill was set out by prime minister Rishi Sunak as part of a wider strategy to create a smoke-free future and restrict the sale of vapes to children. In April, MPs voted in favour of introducing a generational smoking ban, alongside one on single-use disposable vapes, in a landmark ruling. The Tobacco & Vapes Bill passed by 383 votes to 67, and will see the legislation passed. 

The UKVIA has complained that, last week, in a 16-member call for evidence of the Bill, there were not any MPs who opposed the second reading of the Bill present. It has added that the lack of industry representation at the meet is “fundamentally undemocratic”.

John Dunne, director general of the UKVIA, said: “Over the last few months since the vaping consultation which led to the proposed ban on disposables, we have tried to engage with the government on numerous occasions to present our perspectives. Instead, it is clear that the government feels we are trying to derail or slowdown their plans, which could not be further from the truth.

“Whilst we do not agree with the disposable vapes ban, we accept that it is going to happen as the government feel this is the best way to tackle youth vaping, albeit this category has been instrumental in helping smokers quit. However, the government is walking blindly into a bigger problem that the Bill could address with an amendment – that being the widely predicted rise of illicit vape products in the wake of such a ban that will pose a significant public health risk to children and adults alike.”

Generational smoking ban and vape restrictions to become law

The UKVIA has pushed for a licencing scheme for the retailing of vapes in the past, but with the disposable vape ban likely to go ahead it has submitted two amendments for the Bill committee to consider. These include the call to introduce the licensing scheme, along with the need for future governments to undertake a statutory consultation with both industry participants and the general public prior to use the powers as granted by the Bill.

“The secretary of state for health and social care only last week referred to this [licencing] scheme as the line the industry is now taking, which showed absolutely no respect for our commitment to regulate our own industry. The government has completely ignored that we have been pushing for such a scheme for the last few years. The absence of a retailer and distributor licensing scheme will, if not taken on board, represent a missed opportunity for an otherwise landmark piece of legislation. If the government ignores our warning, we will ensure we hold them to account for the impacts of an out-of-control black market, as they are now seeing in Australia.”

 Following the non-inclusion of the vaping industry to give evidence, the UKVIA has written to Preet Gill, shadow minister for Primary Care and Public Health, and Lord Markham, parliamentary under secretary of state at the Department of Health and Social Care , expressing its disappointment at the approach being taken and asking them to challenge the selection process.

The UKVIA has also written to Dame Andrea Leadsom, minister for primary care and public health, while also highlighting to the minister the “growing list of decisions by the Department of Health and Social Care to exclude the UKVIA from any meaningful collaboration with the department”.

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