UKVIA Announces Tobacco Companies No Longer Members, Sets New Criteria

Sep.04.2023
UKVIA Announces Tobacco Companies No Longer Members, Sets New Criteria
Major tobacco companies, including British American Tobacco and Philip Morris International, have left the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA).

According to a report from betterretailing on September 1st, the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has announced that British American Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International, and Philip Morris International are no longer members of the UKVIA.


In a statement issued by UKVIA, the industry advocacy group announced that it will no longer include any tobacco companies among its members. Furthermore, it stated that it will no longer accept any new membership applications from e-cigarette companies wholly or partially owned or acquired by tobacco companies.


The trade association stated, "The organization, being independent from any involvement or sponsorship by tobacco-owned e-cigarette brands, will serve the best interests of the industry.


According to media reports, the organization aims to dispel any misconceptions about its primarily tobacco company-funded nature and overcome any potential restrictions the tobacco companies may face when collaborating with key stakeholders to push for the process of going smoke-free.


In representing businesses solely dedicated to e-cigarettes, many of which were established as independent companies after personal loss in their families due to combustible cigarette smoking, UKVIA aims to engage extensively with key stakeholders as we share similar experiences. The vision is to make smoking a thing of the past." The press release states, "The association believes this is a crucial step in ensuring the full realization of the public health potential of e-cigarettes and making the greatest contribution towards achieving the smoke-free target by 2030 in the coming years.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

New West Virginia Vape Law Begins, With Packaging and Ad Restrictions Ahead
New West Virginia Vape Law Begins, With Packaging and Ad Restrictions Ahead
West Virginia’s Vape Safety Act will take effect Thursday, requiring vapor products sold in vape and smoke shops to carry health warnings, legal-age notices, manufacturer information and ingredient disclosures, while introducing new licensing and enforcement rules.
Jun.10
WHO’s First Global Report on Nicotine Pouches: Harm Reduction Questions Remain Amid Global Regulatory Warning
WHO’s First Global Report on Nicotine Pouches: Harm Reduction Questions Remain Amid Global Regulatory Warning
Ahead of World No Tobacco Day 2026, WHO released its first global report on nicotine pouches, warning that rapid market growth, youth-oriented marketing and weak regulation are converging. 2Firsts views the report as an important warning, but not a complete risk assessment, with harm-reduction questions still unresolved.
Special Report
May.17
AHA Journal Study: WS-23 Triples Premature Heartbeats, Raising Concerns Over Vape Cooling Agents
AHA Journal Study: WS-23 Triples Premature Heartbeats, Raising Concerns Over Vape Cooling Agents
A University of Louisville research team published a study in an American Heart Association journal suggesting that synthetic cooling agents used in e-cigarettes, including WS-3 and WS-23, may disrupt cardiac electrical activity and increase arrhythmia risk. In animal experiments, WS-23 tripled premature heartbeats.
Jun.16
Special Report | Russian Vape Compromise Faces First Hurdles
Special Report | Russian Vape Compromise Faces First Hurdles
Russia’s regional vape-ban model is facing early legal and political tests, as Perm Krai moves ahead before federal legislation is fully adopted. The case highlights uncertainty over regional authority, concerns from business groups about market fragmentation, and the risk that pressure against regional bans could revive calls for a stricter nationwide prohibition.
Industry Insight
May.28
U.S. Senator Durbin Criticizes FDA’s First Flavored Vape Authorization, Says Trump Administration Conceded to Big Tobacco
U.S. Senator Durbin Criticizes FDA’s First Flavored Vape Authorization, Says Trump Administration Conceded to Big Tobacco
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin on May 13 criticized the Trump Administration’s Food and Drug Administration for approving the sale and marketing of fruit-flavored e-cigarettes for the first time, while also allowing some illegal vaping products to remain on the market. He also linked the regulatory shift to the departure of FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, saying White House pressure on regulators to approve tobacco product applications could create serious public-health consequences.
Regulations
May.15
Sweden Becomes First EU Country to Reach Smoke-Free Status as Daily Smoking Falls to 4.8%
Sweden Becomes First EU Country to Reach Smoke-Free Status as Daily Smoking Falls to 4.8%
According to the latest CAN report and multiple media reports, Sweden’s daily smoking rate fell to 4.8% in 2025, below the commonly used 5% smoke-free threshold, making it the first EU country to reach that benchmark.
News
Jun.05