Vapouround magazine ISSUE 11 | Page 30

NEWS IBVTA TO RELEASE NEW TRADING STANDARDS ‘BIBLE’ FOR VAPE INDUSTRY When Britain’s biggest advocate for a free and independent vape business came to its biggest Expo on May 26, associate member Liam Humberstone told Vapouround that the organisation were hoping to “write the Bible” on trading standards for the industry’s vendors. The Independent British Vape Trade Association or IBVTA are fresh off their inaugural April conference (as detailed in our series of special reports in this issue) and haven’t slowed down since. Chairman Richard Hyslop explained how their latest move ties in with their overall mission: “Since our conference in Manchester we’ve been carrying on our day-to-day work, so trips to Brussels and trips to Scotland regarding excise and changes to advertising regulations. “ Richard hopes this will be the most thorough codification of vape trading standards ever assembled. “We’re sending it to Trading Standards to give it their approval,” he added. “Remember, though there’s some confusion within the industry, there’s a lot of that within Trading Standards and various standards organisations taking various approaches. “This week we got a call to our offices from a trading standards officer who had been telling people that the sell-through period for the TPD was this September, that sort of mistake can’t be ignored.” The IBVTA hope for a new uniformity to emerge as a result of their document. “We’re calling it the Vendor’s Guidance – which will hopefully be authorised by Trading Standards and will be distributed to the wider industry. If it goes well, everyone will be singing from the same hymn sheet.” WE FOUND THAT THERE IS STILL A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF THE TRPR [TOBACCO AND RELATED PRODUCTS REGULATIONS 2017] AND A LOT OF MISINFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SO WE’VE PRODUCED A GUIDE TO EVERYTHING – NOT JUST TRPR, BUT ALL OTHER REGULATIONS. THIS INCLUDES AGE OF SALE RESTRICTIONS OR ANYTHING ELSE OUR MEMBERS OR PEOPLE IN THE GENERAL VAPE BUSINESS NEED TO BE AWARE OF. 30 ISSUE 11 VAPOUROUND MAGAZINE