Vaping retailer suggests licensing fee to Bill Committee
Vaping retailer Evapo has proposed a £750 annual licence fee potentially generating £50 million.
In its evidence to the Bill Committee, the vaping retailer said:
“We have been advocating for a vape licensing scheme for a number of years now, and were pleased to see that this is something which has been included in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. However, it is important that the fees for this licensing scheme are manageable for retailers to ensure the scheme is effective.
“We suggest a fee of £750 per store per year, making it manageable for retailers of all sizes to be a part of the scheme and incentivising participation. At this cost licenses to 55,000 convenience and vaping stores could raise upwards of £50 million to fund Trading Standards as they enforce the new laws outlined in the bill.
“By ensuring strong participation in the scheme we can not only fund enforcement services to target rogue retailers for selling illicit products or supplying to underage people, but ensure that licensed retailers across the UK are subject to regular inspection to ensure full compliance with any regulations that are brought in. We take a closer look at how the scheme may work in our post ‘Will there be a vape licensing scheme?”
It continued:
“While there are many aspects of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill that we agree with and fully support, like the need to prevent young people from being able to access vaping products and the introduction of a vape licensing scheme, others have caused concern over the implications they could have for adult smokers and vapers.”
Our concern, shared by many in the industry, is that some of the regulations currently proposed in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill may hold negative consequences for current adult smokers and vapers, making smokers less likely to consider vaping as a viable smoking cessation option, and driving current vapers back to smoking traditional cigarettes.”
It is reported that Shadow health minister Sarah Bool supported evidence provided by Evapo quoting:
“A manageable fee for retailers would incentivise good actor participation, while disincentivising bad actor behaviour. It would also make it more cost effective to follow the law, stymieing rogue traders from shrugging off rare fines to sell illegal, dangerous products to underage people.”
The Public Bill Committee has completed its work and has reported the Bill with amendments to the House of Commons. The Bill is now due to have its report stage and third reading on a date to be announced.
- Categories: National News, Other Misc, Vapes/Tobacco
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