FEATURE
FEATURE
SPEAKING OUT FOR THE BRITISH VAPE INDUSTRY
IBVTA Deputy Chairman Nigel Quine says the body will always be an independent voice for UK vape industry
BY PATRICK GRIFFIN
As managing director of Cuts Ice , Nigel Quine is an extremely busy man indeed .
Add to the mix that he is also the Deputy Chairman of the Independent British Vape Trade Association ( IBVTA ) and Chairman of its Science and Regulatory Committee and you can see that the vaping industry plays a major part of his life .
The IBVTA organised the extremely successful Independent Vape Industry Conference 2017 which was held in Manchester on April 27 .
Nigel is not only an extremely successful businessman but he also shares a passion for helping support other businesses within the industry through his work with the IBVTA . With the implementation of the Tobacco Products Directive ( TPD ) the body has spent a lot of time recently supporting members through the challenges of becoming fully TPD compliant .
However the organisation offers more than just a helping hand through TPD compliance . Its main aim is to offer long-term support the UK ’ s independent vape industry by “ representing all responsible and ethical independent vaping businesses in the UK , irrespective of the size of their companies and operations .”
Nigel is in favour of proportionate regulation which serves to protect the public while allowing the vaping industry to grow and flourish .
He believes that the European vaping industry should not be regulated by the TPD but by its own Vape Products Directive to reflect that vaping is now a global industry in its own right .
Nigel said : “ We don ’ t want the vaping industry to be stifled by advertising restrictions , which don ’ t allow us to promote a product that will potentially save millions of lives .
“ Myself and others started the IBVTA to be an independent voice for the sector .
“ It is important that we operate within the regulatory framework but that those regulations serve to preserve the independent sector and promote innovation which drives the industry .
“ The primary thing ( about the vaping industry ) is giving people an alternative to smoking and is proved to be the most successful way of getting them off cigarettes .
“ The industry is also very much about innovation and always has been . It is quite amazing how things develop , especially with hardware , where there seems to be a new piece of hardware coming out every day . The IBVTA is a not-for-profit , nonpolitical trade association which is owned collectively by all its members .
It strives to provide “ credible knowledge and guidance to support the independent vape sector and promote constructive interaction between this industry sector and the scientific community , vapers , regulators , policy makers , and the general public .”
In addition , the IBVTA “ fosters research and manufacturing excellence , in order to deliver a robust yet proportionate consumer regulatory landscape that adequately reflects the needs of vaping stakeholders and recognises vaping as a sector in its own right .”
Nigel says that a huge benefit of joining the IBVTA is having access to reliable and up-to-date information about key factors in the sector such as the regulatory framework and ongoing changes in regulations .
“ We support our members with good regulatory information , representing their interests on both a national and international level , so that they can devote their time to running their business .
Addressing global concerns , Nigel said he was worried about the current regulatory framework in the USA which many industry experts fear could virtually destroy the US vaping industry . “ I think in the deeming regulations are playing into the hands of Big Tobacco ,” he said . “ I am very worried for our friends in the US and I do hope that the FDA sees some common sense and doesn ’ t regulate it in the way like it seems that it is going . If that happens there will only be a few products left in the market .
80 ISSUE 11 VAPOUROUND MAGAZINE