UKVIA Updates Underage Sales Guide for Retailers

Mar.01.2023
UKVIA Updates Underage Sales Guide for Retailers
UKVIA updates guidelines to prevent underage sales of e-cigarettes for UK retailers. Free 20-page guide available on their website.

The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has released an updated version of its "Preventing Sales to Underage Persons Guide" for retailers. The 20-page guide was jointly developed by UKVIA's main authoritative partner, the Trading Standards organizations of Buckinghamshire and Surrey. It is available for free on the UKVIA website.


The General Secretary of UK Vaping Industry Association, John Dunne, stated that the entire membership of UKVIA is united in its commitment to preventing the sale of e-cigarette products to minors. He also emphasized that the implementation of strict age verification processes is crucial in ensuring the healthy development of the e-cigarette industry.


The guide provides a detailed explanation of how to implement the "Challenge 25" policy and why it is necessary to require ID from anyone who looks under 25 years old. The UKVIA has made this guide available to all retailers free of charge to assist them in complying with UK law and preventing the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors.


Deng En stated that policymakers, politicians, and consumers must believe that the e-cigarette industry is a responsible field. If companies cannot implement and adhere to strict age verification processes, it will undermine this belief.


References:


UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has revised its ‘Preventing Underage Sales Guide’ in order to help UK retailers in preventing the sale of vaping products to minors. The guide lays out the necessary procedures for retailers to comply with the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 as well as identifying the correct age verification methods to limit instances of underage sales. 【2】The update comes as the UK's Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) came up with guidelines that ban online promotions of e-cigarette products specifically designed for children. This can be viewed as a further step towards restricting the sale of e-cigarettes among minors. 【3】UKVIA explained that the revisions are to ensure that the guide is up to date with changing regulatory policies. Furthermore, the association hopes to build upon the early success of the guide since its initial publication in 2017.



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