Vape industry responds to rumoured imminent disposable device ban

By Tony Corbin in Industry News 12th September 2023

Following various headlines in the media surrounding a possible disposable vape ban in a matter of days, John Dunne, director general of the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) said it’s important to clarify that this is actually about a consultation and that no decisions have yet been made on the future of disposable vapes.

It has been reported on television news programmes and several newspapers that ministers are poised to ban disposable vapes, after calls from councils, paediatricians and public waste campaigners to make selling the disposable devices illegal on health and environmental grounds.

However, Dunne said: “We welcome the idea of a consultation on disposables as it’s key that the industry gets the opportunity to highlight the benefits, and therefore continued need, for single-use vapes as a smoking cessation method.

“A ban is not the answer. Some 220 people die from smoking every day, 365 days a year. Disposables have proved to be highly effective in helping smokers quit their habits due to their ease of use, accessibility and low entry price points.

“They are one of the main reasons as to why the number of adult smokers in Great Britain have hit record lows for the last two years according to the Office for National Statistics.”

Phoenix 2 Retail has been working closely with brands and governing bodies, introducing Pre 2 Post Market Compliance testing and UK-wide recycling 360 solutions in a bid to help protect the future of the vaping category in the FMCG sector.

Chris Kelly, chief executive of Phoenix 2 Retail, said: “Regulation is an eventuality we are facing within the category, and it’s vital that we engage with government, regulators and trade bodies on how we support change without impacting our core mission of helping adult smokers switch from combustible cigarettes.

“Advocating licensing, and tougher enforcement for illicit sellers and retailers selling to minors is critical.

“As the founder of Phoenix 2 Retail and as a member of the UKVIA team, we will support our retailer, suppliers and partners throughout the journey.”

Furthermore, Phoenix to Retail has also agreed to a long-term partnership with Serve Legal – the provider of ID and compliance testing services in the UK and Ireland, to protect against underage sales, enhance retailer education and improve performance and compliance for retailers.