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The UK Vaping Industry Association has written to new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting, asking for a meeting to discuss vaping and its place in a smoke-free UK.

It offered support to Labour’s proposals for reintroducing planned legislation that was halted due to the General Election. “We are conscious of the fact that you are looking at reintroducing the Tobacco and Vapes Bill as part of your smoke-free ambitions. We have also read the Labour Party’s manifesto commitment to ban vapes from being branded and advertised to appeal to children to stop the next generation from becoming hooked on nicotine.

“To be completely clear, the UK Vaping Industry Association is supportive of both the aims of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill and Labour’s manifesto commitment.”

The letter highlighted the need for the introduction of a self-funding licensing scheme that supports the enforcement of vaping regulations, addressing the rising challenge of the black market and youth vaping, as well as facilitating the work of under resourced Trading Standards teams across the country.

It also hoped to discuss policies that would “ensure physical retail environments are not overtly marketing vaping products to children, and eliminating their access to vapes” and the prohibition of inappropriate flavour names and imagery on vaping products which are designed to appeal to children.

The UKVIA sent similar letters to public health minister Andrew Gwynne and Shadow Health Secretary Victoria Atkins.