The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has said that the Tobacco and Vape Bill Committee’s decision not to invite the vaping industry or vapers to give evidence is “fundamentally undemocratic,” reports Talking Retail.

No representatives from the vaping industry have been invited to give evidence to the 16-member committee which some in the industry have labelled “ludicrously one-sided”.
John Dunne, director general of the UKVIA, said: “Over the last few months since the vaping consultation which led to the proposed ban on disposables, we have tried to engage with the government on numerous occasions to present our perspectives.
“Instead, it is clear that the government feels we are trying to derail or slowdown their plans, which could not be further from the truth,” he said.
According to Talking Retail, the UKVIA is broadly supportive of the aims of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which include reducing smoking and vaping among youths.
The UKVIA has reached out to both Preet Gill, shadow minister for primary care and public health, and Lord Markham, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Health and Social Care to ask them to challenge the selection process and include representatives from the vaping industry, reports Talking Retail.
“You really could not make this up – the committee does not include any MPs who opposed the second reading of the Bill, nor has it invited anyone from the industry or vapers themselves to give evidence on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill – our office has tried to make contact on a number of occasions so I could represent the industry’s interests, but to no avail,” said Dunne.
“Not only does this risk the Bill not facing proper scrutiny prior to its third reading, but it is fundamentally undemocratic, with the people this Bill will impact the most not being able to provide evidence on how the Bill can be improved,” he said.