Your Weekly Look at the What’s Happening in the Vaping World
Vaping Victory in New Zealand Outrage in Australia
As New Zealand celebrates the legalization of the sale of nicotine in e-liquids doctors in Australia slam the decision to continue the ban in Australia.
Up until now it’s legal to import e-liquids containing nicotine for personal use – but illegal to sell those products!
The decision is a massive win for pro vaping campaigners in New Zealand and even the legislation around the move is what one might call ‘liberal’ to say the least.
The new laws include:
- Sale, and supply in a public place, to under 18-year-olds is prohibited
- Sale via vending machines is restricted to R18 settings
- All retailers will be allowed to display e-cigarettes and e-liquid at the point-of-sale
- Retailers that restrict entry to people aged 18 and over will be allowed to display e-cigarettes and e-liquid in-store (including window display) and promote products on the outside of
- their store, as well as offer discounts, free-samples, loyalty rewards and co-packaging
- Broader advertising eg billboards, radio, TV and Internet advertising will be prohibited
- Vaping will be prohibited in workplaces and other areas where smoking is not allowed under the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990
- Product safety requirements (eg for nicotine concentration) will be set.
Meanwhile in Australia the ban continues and this week sparking a condemnation of the decision from a group of 16 health professionals – academics and health advocates who basically say this is a death sentence for thousands of people.
Spokesman Dr Colin Mendelsohn said:
It is unethical and unscientific to exempt nicotine in tobacco products and to deny smokers access to a much safer alternative.
We tried to make the administration realise that this could save hundreds of thousands of Australian lives.
This is a much safer alternative to tobacco – the most lethal consumer product ever invented. To ban [nicotine in e-cigarettes] is unethical and unscientific.
The war of words continued with Professor Peter Gibson of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand supporting the ban adding:
To date, the evidence does not support the lifting of this ban.While electronic cigarettes are likely to be less dangerous than smoking cigarettes, they are not harmless.
We have an increasing body of evidence pointing to the harms of e-cigarettes containing nicotine.
Accumulating evidence is showing that vaping is associated with adverse cardio-respiratory effects, DNA damage and impaired development in young people and pregnant women.
If the TGA were to remove the ban, consumers could be under the false impression that all e-cigarettes were safe and effective cessation aids.
I have a feeling this will rumble on for some time.
New York Plans Huge E-Liquid Tax Rise
A tax hike on e-liquids could double the price of an average bottle.
Vapers and vape shops are fighting a rear guard action on two fronts in New York as the powers that be try to claw back tax losses through plummeting tobacco sales by taxing the hell out of e-liquids.
The state is already trying to ban flavoured e-liquids and is now looking to increase tax on all things vape by a staggering 400%.
The original proposal was to add 10cents tax per mil of juice – but as most are sold in 50mil bottles that would mean a whopping $5 dollars in tax added to each bottle.
Speaking to TV station WGRZ Andrew Osborne a vape shop owner and Vice President of the New York State Vapor Association says not only is this bad for vapers but could ruin businesses:
The problem is for smokers, and not just the increased cost, but the message that that sends from New York State directly to the smokers.
They’re basically saying if they’re going to tax it at the same rate or similarly if they’re going to regulate it just like it’s smoking, then unfortunately for the millions of smokers all across New York State, they’re going to interpret that message as vaping is equal to smoking, it’s probably just as bad and they may actually be denying themselves something that could save their life.
Bricks and Mortar Vape Shops
Scotland leads the way in the amount of vape shops opening up in the UK’s cities.
Edinburgh currently has 17 bricks and mortar vaping stores with Birmingham and London coming in next.
Cities such as Coventry – Canterbury – Stoke-on-Trent and Wolverhampton are apparently yet to see a shop open.
In my small town alone there are 3 after Totally Wicked opened up this weekend as well as a computer shop that sells tons of e-liquids – DIY stuff and mods.
The survey was carried out by VapourLites and comes after the recent study by the National Office of Statistics that showed here in the UK one adult switches to e-cigarettes every four minutes.
Director of VapourLites – Charles Bloom – said:
There’s no question that the e-cigarette industry is forging its place within the British market.
The example set by London, Birmingham and Edinburgh proves there is an audience for electronic alternatives – particularly regarding those struggling with addiction.
Each vaping outlet will offer consumers a way to cope and make a positive change and hopefully, over time many more cities across the UK will follow suit.
Anyone thinking about opening up a vape shop might want to check out the map to see where there’s a vape hungry customer base 😉
Independent Vape Industry Conference 2017
With the shadow of the TPD on our doorstep the vape industry is set for an interesting conference later this month to say the least.
To be held at the MacDonald Hotel, Manchester on Thursday April 27th this is the first conference specifically aimed at independent vape industry and features an exciting list of speakers.
A spokesman for the event said:
2017 is a critical year for the vape industry with the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations coming into full effect in May.
In addition to this, new guidance will be published on advertising, decisions will be taken in Brussels regarding taxation of vape products, and the formal process of the UK leaving the European Union will begin.
These are challenging times, but they are also exciting times and there are wonderful opportunities ahead for the independent vape industry.
Speakers 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))
- Sarah Jakes, Trustee New Nicotine Alliance
For more information visit the IBVTA Website.
Brexit – is Article 50 Good News for UK Vapers?
This week saw the UK Government finally trigger the official removal of Britain from the European Union with the Prime Minister formally writing the so called Article 50.
How and even if this will affect the TPD is unclear as the UK has already entered it into law however vaping political party Vapers in Power has called on the government to repeal the act.
In a statement the party said:
…we welcome the Prime Minister’s invocation of Article 50. Once EU law is no longer supreme we hope the government will swiftly move to repeal the Tobacco and Related Products Act 2016, the British implementation of the EU TPD, and replace it with a new law which is actually fit for purpose.
Despite being called the Tobacco Products Directive, most of the substantive legislation contained in the TPD is directed at electronic cigarettes. Sadly, this legislation is nothing short of atrocious – overbearing, authoritarian, scientifically unjustified and rammed through by inept politicians and vested interests.
You can read the full statement at Vapers In Power.
NNA Needs Your Support
The New Nicotine Alliance has launched a major fund raising campaign as they look to increase the tobacco harm reduction and advocacy programs.
After just two years the organization has become the ‘go to group’ for help – advice and media comments on how to implement safer methods of nicotine use including vaping.
Chair of Trustees Professor Gerry Stimson said:
Our Trustees and Associates have worked really hard to get NNA this far and, until now, all of NNA’s work has been done by volunteers. We have recently appointed a part-time administrator to ease some of the pressure on our Trustees and to enable our charity to grow.
Every week there are new challenges: yet more questionable science, threats of creeping prohibition and individuals and organisations that want to sow doubts and fears. We need resources to counter these.
If you support NNA’s aims and like what we do please help to fund our work. Any amount you can spare will be put to very good use.
If you are a UK taxpayer please also consider signing up to Gift Aid to increase your donation by 25%. Gift Aid applies to past donations too so please sign up if you have donated to us before, even if you cannot give this time.
More information on how to donate and to get involved on the NNA Website.
And finally…the 650 Watt Polar Foil
Seems most if not all of you weren’t at all fooled by the piece on the 650 watt device the Polar Foil 🙂
Though I did see one discussion about it on Twitter that might – just might have fooled a couple haha.
Anyway I was of course pretty much describing a kettle so well done those of you who spotted that Polar Foil was indeed an anagram of April Fool!
The designer’s name Payolas Florid is an anagram of April Fools Day and his company name was of course an anagram of Spoof.
Hope it made you smile a little bit 😉
*Shuffles papers*
