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Independent Vape Industry Conference.
The 20th May, on this date that the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations come into full effect. What will then happen? Will the regulations be enforced and policed? What will the MHRA be doing with all the data it has received? Are Trading Standards adequately prepared? What role will the Department of Health be playing? These are all critically important questions and I am delighted that representatives of all these organisations will be speaking at the Independent Vape Industry Conference being held in Manchester on the 27th April.
I really do believe that this conference is a must attend event for all those involved in the independent vape industry.
This is the first conference aimed specifically at the independent vape industry and focused exclusively on issues of direct relevance to the independent vape industry.
Speakers at this conference include:
- Sir Kevin Barron MP, Senior Labour MP and Vice Chairman of the APPG on Smoking and Health
- Lord Callanan, Former Conservative MEP who was one of the shadow rapporteurs on the TPD
- Martin Dockrell, Tobacco Control Lead at Public Health England
- Matthew Ebsworth, Anthony Jones Insurance Brokers
- Tom Hughes, VAT and Excise, Business and International Tax at HM Treasury
- Beryl Keeley, MHRA E-Cigarette Notification Scheme Lead
- Stephen Knight, Department of Health Policy Manager (Tobacco Control (EU)) and member of the Department of Health Tobacco Focus Group
- Sarah Jakes, Trustee New Nicotine Alliance
- Robert Morrison, Senior Regulatory Policy Executive at the Committee on Advertising Practice
- Rémi Parola, Chairman of CEN/TC 437 Electronic cigarettes and e-liquids and ISO/TC 126/SC3 Vape and vapour products
- Kate Pike, Co-ordinator for Trading Standards North West
Topics being discussed at this conference include:
- The development of European and International Standards for vape products
- The current and future regulatory regime for the vape industry in the UK and Europe
- How best to advertise and promote your business under the current restrictions
- How best to use supportive data about vaping in your day-to-day business activities
- Taxation of vape products
- The challenges and opportunities of running a business in this sector
- How best to grow your business and the things you need to consider when running a business on a day-to-day basis
- The importance of having the right insurance
In addition to this, there will be the presentation of new research and data, and finally, the day will close with a question time style panel debate covering all aspects of vaping.
Throughout the day there will be plenty of opportunities, over coffee, lunch, and the drinks reception, to network with fellow business owners and others.
Vaping Tax Consultation
In February, I wrote about proposals for an EU-wide excise regime for vape products. As you would expect, IBVTA is opposed to the introduction of any additional taxation for vape products.
The European Commission has recently concluded a public consultation on this. You can read IBVTA's consultation response here.
The initial results of the consultation were published this week and it is encouraging to see that 90 per cent of respondents agree with IBVTA's opposition to this proposed new tax. We very much hope that the Commission take note of this when deciding whether or not to take forward this proposal. From an IBVTA perspective we will be continuing to work with colleagues from across Europe to fight these proposals, and already have a number of meetings lined up with MEPs.
On the subject of Europe, IBVTA is a founding member of the European Coalition for Independent Vape (ECIV) and recently a meeting was held in Brussels with representatives of eight other independent vape trade associations from across Europe. As the UK prepares to leave the EU, IBVTA's involvement with ECIV will be more important than ever.
Richard Hyslop
Chief Executive
Independent British Vape Trade Association