JTI Urges MPs to Intensify Vaping Regulations to Curb Illicit Sales and Youth Appeal

RegulationsMarket by Ashe Wong
May.31.2023
JTI Urges MPs to Intensify Vaping Regulations to Curb Illicit Sales and Youth Appeal
Japan Tobacco International (JTI) is campaigning for stricter rules on vaping, aiming to amend the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR) 2016 to tackle the appeal to minors and the issue of illegal and non-compliant vaping products.

In a parliamentary reception supported by North Tyneside Labour MP Mary Glindon, JTI argued for the need to amend the TRPR 2016. The amendment aims to ensure that vapes do not appeal to minors and to address the issues surrounding illegal and non-compliant products.

 

While Glindon appreciates the role of vapes as an alternative to traditional smoking, she expressed concern that not enough is being done to curb illicit trading.

 

JTI advocates for a change in the current TRPR so that all e-cigarettes and e-liquids are regulated in the same way, preventing them from appealing to minors. It calls for a ban on imagery, flavor names, descriptors, environments, or objects that are typical of children and youth.

 

Furthermore, JTI is pushing for e-cigarette packaging to undergo an inspection as part of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency's notification process before a product can be placed on the market.

 

During the reception, JTI displayed various vapes designed to appeal to children, including those illegally imitating well-known confectionery brands. The company highlighted the rapid growth of disposable vapes and expressed concern about attracting new users who would not normally consume nicotine.

 

Nicky Small, Corporate Affairs & Communications Director UK, JTI, voiced the need for the government to undertake further research on youth vaping. JTI also proposed stricter law enforcement mechanisms, with fines and penalties reflecting the severity of the offenses. The company suggests aligning the fines with those for tobacco products.

 

Lastly, JTI strongly believes that the mere issuance of warnings is ineffective. Ian Howell, the company's representative, commented that many retailers knowingly continue to sell illegal vapes and tobacco products. He also criticized the draft regulations which allow Trading Standards (TS) to merely pass an investigation onto HMRC instead of directly imposing fines.

 

Small and Howell warned of the threat posed by illicit vaping products to the vaping category's future, stating that lack of proper regulation might lead to a knee-jerk reaction against the industry, harming businesses that have invested heavily in the vaping sector.

 

Glindon concluded that, while vaping represents a significant opportunity for promoting less harmful alternatives to tobacco, it is crucial to acknowledge and address the dangers posed by counterfeit and illegal products.


Thumbnail source: Forbes

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