The founder of the UK’s leading vape distributor has described the Government’s proposed plans to impose packaging and display limits on vapes as “disproportionate”, warning that they could prevent smokers from giving up tobacco.
Chris Kelly, founder of Phoenix 2 Retail, says the plans risk losing sight of the products’ effectiveness as a tool which can be used to help smokers quit by treating them in the same way as tobacco.
His comments followed the launch last Friday of the Department of Health and Social Care’s UK-wide consultation on plans to introduce plain packaging and restrict flavour descriptions for vapes, as part of efforts to stop vapes from appearing attractive to children.
The proposals, which follow the Tobacco and Vapes Act, would also require vapes to be sold with plain packaging and concealed out of sight in shops, moving all e-cigarette displays behind the counter or into closed cabinets.
Mr Kelly said: “We welcome the Government’s aim of protecting young people from vaping, which is an objective everybody in this industry agrees with, but these proposed actions are disproportionate to what’s needed to achieve that aim.
“By treating vapes and pouches with the same regulatory approach as we do tobacco products, we are losing sight of the notion that they are a less harmful alternative to smoking and are proven to be the most effective tool we have to help smokers quit.
“That has to stay the focus. However, taking them out of the sight of smokers means they are less likely to try them and are less likely to switch from combustibles to vaping.”
Mr Kelly’s comments echo the concern raised by the wider industry, which he also says is already struggling to absorb rapid changes caused by previous legislation introduced in a short period.
He added: “We are also concerned from an industry point of view in the wake of the rapid changes that we are still adjusting to following the legislation that has been brought in over the last 12 to 18 months alone.
“The ban on disposable vapes and the introduction of a new duty have resulted in significant undertakings for businesses of every size across the supply chain, so we would urge the Government to give us the time and support we need before introducing more changes.
“With this in mind, I sincerely hope that businesses, alongside adult smokers who have successfully switched and retailers who take age verification seriously, are involved in this consultation and that whatever policy emerges is based on having seen the full picture, rather than believing in the misinformation that is all-too-often printed about our industry.”
Founded by Chris Kelly six years ago, Phoenix 2 Retail supplies a host of major UK names including Tesco, Morrisons, Booker and Parfetts. Based in Hartlepool, it employs 80 people and distributes more than 50 million vapes a year.
Comments are closed.