Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

UKVIA ends relations with tobacco firms

UKVIA ends relations with tobacco firms

The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has on Friday announced that the membership of British American Tobacco (BAT), Imperial Brands, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and Philip Morris International (PMI) has come to an end.

The industry body added that it will no longer include any tobacco companies within its membership and will not be accepting any tobacco company funding in the future.


The association has decided not to accept any new applications for membership by vaping businesses wholly/part owned or acquired by tobacco companies in the future following a member-wide consultation.

The UKVIA said it has become “increasingly clear” that the interests of the vaping industry would be best served by the association being independent of any involvement or funding from tobacco-owned vaping brands, as there has been an “ingrained external misperception” that the association is largely financially supported by tobacco firms.

“Whilst this could not be further from the truth (funding from tobacco-owned vaping brands for the last membership year amounted to less than 4 per cent of the total of all UKVIA’s income) it gave the impression in some quarters that the association was synonymous with combustible tobacco, the very market it is trying to eliminate to create a smoke free future,” the association said in a statement.

The UKVIA said its intention in including tobacco-owned vaping brands in the membership originally was to create a significant movement for change, from tobacco to vaping, partly through their organisations focusing on the production of vapes and reduced harm alternatives.

“However, the UKVIA acknowledges that it underestimated the impact of restrictions on tobacco companies for the association to engage with some key stakeholders, particularly those in public health,” the statement noted.

“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 association sees this as being a vital step in ensuring that the public health potential of vaping is fully realised and the sector making its fullest contribution to the delivery of the smoke free targets over the next few years to 2030.”

Imperial Brands and BAT said they would continue to work outside the UKVIA to promote the vaping sector.

“We are proud of our contribution to UKVIA over the last seven years, and as one of UKVIA’s founding members, we have helped the association to establish itself as a meaningful voice in the sector, championing the vaping category across the UK,” Oliver Kutz, general manager UK & Ireland at Imperial Brands, told Vape Business.

“Outside of UKVIA membership, we will continue to call for government and enforcement authorities to work together with the industry to raise safety and quality standards across the sector in order to drive out irresponsible actors and improve trust in this important product category.”

Responding to the development, a BAT UK spokesperson said: “BAT has been a member of the UKVIA since its inception and recognises the valuable role that the association has played in promoting the benefits of vaping. BAT is no longer a member of the UKVIA but remains committed to transforming our business by reducing the health impact of smoking. We will continue to do this by offering the widest choice of reduced-risk products to smokers, and by encouraging them to switch.”

JTI and PMI have been approached for comment.

More for you

Volumatic welcomes new FCA rules safeguarding access to cash

Volumatic welcomes new FCA rules safeguarding access to cash

As industry leaders is cash handling, Volumatic has long supported the use of cash and the importance of maintaining access to cash for both consumers and businesses. The company recognises the importance of the new set of rules created by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) two months ago, to safeguard access to cash for businesses and consumers across the UK.

Since introduction, the new rules are intended to ensure that individuals and businesses who rely on cash can continue to access it and the outcome has already sparked the creation of 15 new banking hubs across the UK, including one in Scotland, with many more to follow.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jisp unveils new NPD service

Jisp unveils new NPD service

Retail technology company Jisp has launched an NPD service as part of its new Direct to Retailer business unit.

The new NPD service will allow brands to launch or trial new products in a guaranteed number of convenience store locations, with on the ground review of execution by Jisp’s retail growth manager team, and performance data and insights deliverable through its scanning technology and back-office systems.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tesco launches price cuts in Express convenience stores
File image of Tesco Express

Tesco launches price cuts in Express convenience stores

Tesco is slashing the price of more than 222 own-brand and branded products in its Express convenience stores.

Essentials including milk, bread, pasta and coffee are included in the lines which have been reduced in price by an average of more than 10 per cent at Tesco Express stores. The retail giant has made more than 2,800 price cuts across stores in recent months. With 2,048 of convenience stores at the end of the 2023-24 financial year, Tesco aims to benefit hundreds of thousands of customers from the cheaper deals.

Keep ReadingShow less
vape and cigarette
Photo: iStock

One in five ex-smokers in England now vape, study finds


Summary
1. One in five people who have successfully quit smoking in England currently vape, with an estimated 2.2 million individuals using e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool.
2. The increase in vaping among ex-smokers is largely driven by the use of e-cigarettes in quit attempts, with a rise in vaping uptake among people who had previously quit smoking for many years before taking up vaping.
3. While vaping may be a less harmful option compared to smoking, there are concerns about the potential long-term implications of vaping on relapse risk and nicotine addiction. Further research is needed to assess the impact of vaping on smoking cessation outcomes.


Keep ReadingShow less
Bira engages with Treasury on Budget fallout, business rate reform
(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Bira engages with Treasury on Budget fallout, business rate reform

Independent retailers association Bira has held a meeting with members of the Treasury team to discuss concerns following its robust response to the Government’s recent Budget announcement.

The Budget, labelled by Bira as "devastating" for independent retailers, was met with widespread indignation from Bira members.

Keep ReadingShow less