Fed seeks member feedback on vape consultation

Hemanshu Patel, National President of the Fed

(Pictured: the Fed’s National President, Hemanshu Patel)

The Fed seeks member feedback on vape display ban consultation

The Fed is encouraging members to participate in the vape display ban consultation being implemented by the Department of Health, which closes on October 2.

Among the government’s proposals are:

• A ban on vape displays similar to that in place for cigarettes
• Tighter rules around the description of vapes
• Introduction of plain packaging of vapes
• Rules around the design of vapes.

National President, Hemanshu Patel, said: “The Fed has concerns about some of the measures being proposed and, importantly, we want to make sure the voice of independent retailers is heard. I would encourage members to share their views with our Political Engagement team or, better still, take part in the consultation directly. These changes could have a real impact on how our members operate their businesses, so it is important that government understands the practical challenges they face.”

The consultation can be accessed at: https://consultations.dhsc.gov.uk/tobacco-and-vapes-packaging-appearance-and-display

The Fed’s concerns include:

• The costs, space and logistics complexity for members putting vapes behind a display screen.
• Proposed timescales. If changes to vape display restrictions go ahead, we want to ensure Fed members are given as much time as possible to prepare. We are also calling for appropriate resources to be made available to ensure any new restrictions are properly understood and enforced. The government is currently proposing that retailers have at least six months to prepare, but we believe this should be longer.
• Plain packaging will make it harder for retailers and their customers to identify vapes, slowing down transactions.

In the last two years, the Fed has scrutinised various aspects of the Tobacco and Vapes Act before and since its passage through Parliament and called for the unique needs of small independent retailers to be considered before changes are implemented. As previously reported, the Fed has called on the government to consider the needs of small shops in the way it develops rules.

If you have any questions about the vape consultation, please contact our Political Engagement Coordinator on: douglas.oliver@nfrn.org.uk