The UK's vaping industry will gather in London next week as the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) hosts its annual forum, with the forthcoming Vaping Products Duty (VPD) and wider regulatory reforms dominating the agenda.
The UKVIA Forum 2026 will take place at the National Liberal Club on 13 July under the theme Making vaping policy work best, bringing together senior industry figures, government agencies, parliamentarians, regulators, public health specialists, retailers and consumer experts.
The event comes as businesses prepare for the introduction of the Vaping Products Duty from 1 October and the prospect of further regulations covering flavours, packaging, advertising and in-store displays under the Tobacco and Vapes Act.
A key session, Adding up the true cost of the Vaping Products Duty, will unveil new research examining the potential impact of the tax on consumer behaviour, smoking cessation, stop smoking services and the illicit market.
The forum will also feature a one-to-one session between UKVIA director general John Dunne and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), aimed at helping businesses prepare for the operation of the new duty.
"The vaping sector is approaching a defining moment where Vaping Products Duty combined with extensive new regulation, will fundamentally change the environment in which responsible manufacturers, distributors and retailers operate," Dunne said.
"This is such a critical time for the industry that we moved the Forum forward from November so we could have meaningful discussions ahead of VPD implementation."
He said the UKVIA continued to support proportionate regulation and that the forum would provide an opportunity to discuss how emerging policies could best help adult smokers switch from cigarettes while protecting young people and tackling illegal sales.
The association will also unveil the findings of new research into the impact of the Vaping Products Duty, a consumer survey of more than 3,500 respondents on the importance of flavours, and fresh Freedom of Information data on flavour use within local authority stop smoking services.
Retail licensing will also feature prominently, with Vape Club co-owner Dan Marchant leading a panel on integrating a vape retailer and distributor licensing framework to help fund Trading Standards enforcement against rogue retailers.
Other sessions will explore political engagement with the UK's estimated five million adult vape users, while environmental compliance will be discussed by Bubbly Sandhu, senior regulatory compliance lead for WEEE and batteries at the Office for Product Safety and Standards.
"Responsible businesses are being asked to implement extensive changes while competing against an illicit market that has absolutely no regard for tax, product rules or age restrictions," Dunne added.
"This is why it is vital that the industry is informed, prepared and united in making the case for proportionate, evidence-led regulation. The UKVIA Forum will bring together key voices at precisely the time that this dialogue is needed most."