The Importance of Consumer Organizations for Vaping Rights

Currently, there are over 50 organizations worldwide dedicated to protecting the rights of electronic cigarette and nicotine consumers, and new groups are continuing to form. For many users of electronic cigarettes and non-combustible nicotine products around the world, it has never been easier to find a mature consumer community working to protect their interests.

Almost three times as many countries lack consumer organizations. Countries without representation for e-cigarette users include Australia, Japan, Israel, Russia, Turkey, Pakistan, and Poland. Only one Arabic country, Tunisia, has an e-cigarette consumer group. Some of these countries prohibit the sale of nicotine, but not all countries have banned sales.

Even in countries with consumer organizations, the majority of e-cigarette users do not participate. They may be unaware of the existence of consumer organizations - or even that such organizations are necessary. Others simply do not understand that only by banding together can they successfully wage a war against e-cigarettes. Some individuals fear they will constantly be asked for donations.

Most organizations do rely on contributions from their members, but few charge explicit membership fees. Recruiting new members may be even more important than raising funds, as these groups earn the respect of elected officials and regulatory agencies by presenting themselves as legitimate representatives of a large consumer base. These organizations want and need new members.

A large number of membership rosters provide contact lists of individuals willing to make phone calls, send emails, and create social media buzz in defense of e-cigarettes. Successful groups typically have members with diverse skill sets, often including lawyers and writers. These groups often align with sympathetic external experts, such as physicians and scholars, who are willing to testify on behalf of e-cigarette users at hearings.

For users of electronic cigarettes, it is important to join advocacy groups that exist to fight for the rights of electronic cigarette users and to voice their opinions to these groups.

Why do consumers need their own organization?

Since vaping entered Europe and the Americas around 2007, it has been the target of relentless attacks by politicians seeking publicity, nervous regulatory bodies, and anti-nicotine organizations. Prior to the advent of e-cigarettes, these groups were not concerned with nicotine at all — they were anti-smoking groups primarily focused on cigarettes.

However, e-cigarettes have changed all of this. E-cigarettes are an attractive alternative to traditional cigarettes, providing not only nicotine, but also many of the sensory aspects of smoking, helping many smokers stay away from cigarettes. Due to this success, and because e-cigarettes look so similar to traditional smoking that it scares anti-smoking advocates, e-cigarettes have been met with skepticism, misunderstandings, fear, and opposition from the beginning, requiring passionate advocates to defend their availability and affordability.

The trade organizations representing manufacturers and retailers of e-cigarette products are a crucial part of this ongoing battle. Suppliers who oppose laws and regulations that threaten their business often have more financial clout than consumers do. They are able to hire lobbyists and lawyers to fight against unfavorable legislation. Typically, industry trade groups have a good relationship with consumer groups.

Industry representatives don't always have the same interests as consumers, and sometimes they're willing to negotiate compromises that e-cigarette users themselves would never support. For example, e-cigarette shops and convenience stores may be willing to agree to a ban on online sales, some e-liquid manufacturers and stores support nicotine strength limits, and the largest manufacturers may support e-liquid taxes or even flavor bans. Trade representatives may exaggerate the risks of DIY e-liquid manufacturing, which could lead to further legal restrictions.

Electronic cigarette users need their own representation. Typically, organizations for electronic cigarette consumers fight for all electronic cigarette users and non-combustible nicotine consumers, whether they use bottled e-liquid or pods, or even snus or other nicotine products. They support harm reduction principles that require authorities to allow the sale of low-risk nicotine products and share truthful information about these products with consumers.

Global organization for the rights of nicotine consumers.

International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organizations (INNCO)

The medical organization that supports electronic cigarettes and the Electronic Cigarette Trade Association (MOVE), known as ETHRA, is a member of INNCO.

Africa

Africa - a regional organization.

Campaign for Safer Alternatives (CASA)

Africa - a union of countries

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a member of the Coalition of Alternative Strategies to Action (CASA), Kenya (THR Kenya), also a CASA member, Malawi (THR Malawi), have all made efforts to reduce the harm caused by tobacco. Nigeria (THR Nigeria), also a CASA member, and the Association of Electronic Cigarettes in Tunisia (ACEAF) and the International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organizations (INNCO) member, Tobacco Harm Reduction Uganda (THR Uganda), also a CASA member, have all taken measures to decrease the negative impact of tobacco.

The Americas.

Americas - Regional Organization: Association for Tobacco Harm Reduction in Latin America (ARDT IBEROAMÉRICA)

Americas - National Organization

The Asociación de Vapeadores Argentina (ASOVAPE Argentina) and members of ARDT IBEROAMÉRICA including Brazil's Diretório de Informações para Redução dos Danos do Tabagismo (DIRETA), Canada's Tobacco Harm Reduction Association (THRA) who are also members of INNCO, Chile's Asociación de Consumidores Vapeadores de Chile (ASOVAPE Chile) and Vapear No Es Fumar who are members of ARDT IBEROAMÉRICA, Colombia's Asociación Colombiana de Vapeadores (ASOVAPE Colombia) who are both ARDT IBEROAMÉRICA and INNCO members, Costa Rica's Asociación Costarricense de Vapeadores (ASOVAPE Costa Rica) who are members of ARDT IBEROAMÉRICA, Ecuador's Asociación de Vapeadores del Ecuador (ASOVAPE Ecuador) who are also members of ARDT IBEROAMÉRICA, Pro-Vapeo México AC and Mexico y el Mundo Vapeando AC (MMV) who are both ARDT IBEROAMÉRICA and INNCO members, Panama's Asociación por la Reducción de Daños del Tabaquismo de Panamá (ARDT Panamá) who are an ARDT IBEROAMÉRICA member, Paraguay's Asociación Paraguaya de Vapeadores (ASOVAPE PY) and Peru's Asociación Peruana de Vapeadores (ASOVAPE Peru) who are both members of ARDT IBEROAMÉRICA, the Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association (CASAA) who are INNCO members, and Venezuela's Asociación de Vapeadores de Venezuela who are members of ARDT IBEROAMÉRICA.

Asia Pacific

Asia-Pacific Region - Regional Organization

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA), which is under the umbrella of the International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organizations (INNCO).

Asia-Pacific Region - National Organization

Members of the India Electronic Cigarette Association (AVI), CAPHRA, and INNCO.

The Indonesian Vapers Association, a member of the Indonesia Coalition of Advocates for People's Health (CAPHRA), joins other member groups including the New Zealand Aotearoa Vapers Community Advocacy (AVCA), the Pakistan Association of Smoking Alternatives (ASAP), the Philippine Coalition of Advocates for Health Rights (CAPHRA), the International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organizations (INNCO), and the Taiwan Tobacco Harm Reduction Association (TTHRA) in partnership with ENDS CIGARETTE SMOKE THAILAND (ECST), another member of CAPHRA and INNCO, in support of vaping and tobacco harm reduction.

Europe

The European region's organization for advocating harm reduction in tobacco, ETHRA, welcomed the European Union's recognition of ETHRA and INNCO as members. ETHRA is a regional organization and INNCO is a national organization in Europe.

Several European vaping associations, including Austria's Österreichischer Dampferclub (ÖDC), Belgium's Indépendante Des Utilisateurs de Cigarette Electronique (Aiduce), ETHRA and INNCO members, Union Belge pour la Vape - Belgische Damp Bond (UBV-BDB), Cyprus Vaping Association (CVA), Denmark's Dansk e-Damper Forening (DADAFO), Estonia's Suitsuvaba Eesti (NNA-Smokefree Estonia), Finland's ETHRA and INNCO members, France's Association Indépendante Des Utilisateurs de Cigarette Electronique (Aiduce), SOVAPE ETHRA members, Germany's Bundesverband Rauchfreie Alternative eV (BVRA), Die Interessengemeinschaft E-Dampfen eV (IG-ED) and Die Interessengemeinschaft ExRaucher (ExRaucher IG), Greece's Greek Vapers Club, Hungary's Villanypára Egyesület (Electric Vapour Association), Ireland's NNA-Ireland, Italy's Associazione Nazionale per i Vapers Uniti (ANPVU), Netherlands' Actief Voor Dampen (AcVoDa), Norway's Nikotinalliansen Norge (Nikan), Norsk Dampselskap (NDS) and INNCO members, Portugal's APORVAP and ARDT IBEROAMÉRICA members, Ohms Do Vapor, Romania's Asociatia Consumatorilor de Produse Alternative cu Nicotina (ACPAN), Slovenia's Združenje vejperjev Slovenije (ZVS) and Spain's Asociación Española de Usuarios de Vaporizadores Personales (ANESVAP), ETHRA and INNCO members, Sweden's NNA-Sweden, and Britain's NNA-UK ETHRA member, ETHRA snuff user association member, and Vapers.org.uk ETHRA member are all members of INNCO.

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