IBVTA statement on Nottingham vaping case

The UK is currently home to around 3.6 million vapers, and over 2 million ex-vapers according to the most recent Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) report. This incident is therefore, to the knowledge of the IBVTA, an isolated one that may only be relevant to as few as one in 5 million people. It is nevertheless one that all IBVTA members will take extremely seriously. IBVTA members are in the business of helping people to move away from what is an extremely harmful product, and that is combustible tobacco.

The incident is reportedly from 2017, and occurred with products purchased in the UK, a market which has been tightly regulated since May 2016. Part of that regulation allows for appropriate market surveillance by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) via a product notification system.

Given the nature of what appears to be a very serious incident, the IBVTA is very keen to understand whether it was reported to MHRA at the time of occurrence, whether the products associated with the alleged incident were compliant with UK regulations, and whether appropriate action was taken at that time.

The IBVTA is keenly aware of difficulties faced by the US vape market associated with the consumption of illicit or adulterated THC liquid by vaping. Regulation of the UK market clearly provides a level of public protection that has perhaps been missing in the US, but enforcement of those regulations is extremely important in assuring such protection.