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MARCH/APRIL 2016
and-mortar. We feel it is imperative to
defend the industry from top to bottom.
You cannot represent only one sector
and be effective.”
Support for All Sizes
As part of its effort to welcome all
vapor companies into the fold, VTA has
chosen a tiered fee structure. “Rather
than one arbitrarily set fee, we base
our membership dues on company
size so that people at all levels of
the industry can join,” says Abboud.
“In exchange for that, they will have
access to a sophisticated lobbying team
that can help put members in touch
with Congress in a thoughtful and
comprehensive way. The battles being
raised in [Washington] D.C. are only
a piece of the overall puzzle, so we will
also partner with associations to address
threats at the state level.”
The association has already attracted
70 new members since its launch
in late January of 2016, including
Tennessee Smoke Free Association
(TSFA), a leading advocacy group with
a focus on tobacco harm reduction
through the use of personal vaporizers.
“VTA and its leadership bring a
much-needed, fresh perspective to the
industry and a responsible approach to
the public policies that impact it,” says
Dimitris Agrafiotis, TSFA’s executive
director. “The Tennessee Smoke Free
Association is committed to promoting
greater public health through vapor
products, and we will work hand-in-
hand with VTA to fight proposed
federal regulations that only serve
to
eliminate
this
antismoking
alternative.”
In addition to working with its
members to push back on misleading
information,VTA plans to pursue strong
industry standards and responsible
regulations that will, by ensuring the
safety of consumers, calm fears and
correct misperceptions. “Product safety
is incredibly important,” says Abboud.
“The industry has an obligation to put
standards in place that will make sure
these products operate properly. The
deeming regulations as proposed don’t
do anything to address concerns about
batteries heating up and so on. And the
mainstream media and public health
groups are ebullient when negative news
comes out because it’s an opportunity
to denigrate the product, which, in
turn, influences decision makers. That’s
why the market has to do more to put
standards in place.”
TBI
NOTE:
For more on Vapor Technology
Association, see “A Vapor Voice” on p. 72.