UKVIA Vaping Industry Logistics Survey
The UK Vaping Industry Association is conducting a survey to find out how many businesses are suffering from stealth shipping bans
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by Dave Cross
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In March, Planet of the Vapes broke the news that German company DHL had changed its conditions of service on the website to include, “Electronic cigarettes and pipes, e-hookahs, e-cigars and vape pens including any device that, through an aerosolised solution, delivers nicotine, flavour, or any other inhalable substance” on the prohibited items list (1).
DHL declined to provide an on the record comment, but Planet of the Vapes was told that this would only apply to consumers shipping to consumers – not the electronic cigarette industry. It appears the DHL employee was not being completely honest.
The UKVIA (2) says it has received reports covering all the leading providers such as DHL, UPS, and FedEx. Businesses are saying they have experienced varying degrees of disruption to deliveries in recent months.
The UKVIA is especially keen to learn if any disruption is affecting products imported from countries within the European Union or if products imported from China and the USA are also being held up. It has launched an online logistics survey for vape business owners in order to gather more detail (3):
The survey questions:
- Name and business
- Are you a member of the UK Vaping Industry Association?
- Do you use one of the following logistics companies that have reportedly stopped shipments of vaping products?
- Have you experienced any logistics problems in the UK market as a result of reports of the likes of DHL, FedEx and UPS stop shipping vape products into and across the UK?
- Have you experienced any logistics problems in European/international markets you serve as a result of reports of the likes of DHL, FedEx and UPS stopping shipping of your exported vape products?
- Which logistics providers do you currently use for national/international distribution requirements which continue to provide you with a service?
- Which logistics providers do you use for local distribution requirements (ie home deliveries) which continue to provide a service?
- Are you aware of any other logistics providers who have made the decision to not distribute vaping products in light of the reported actions of DHL, UPS and FedEx?
- If your provider has stopped shipments or intending to stop shipments did they communicate/have they communicated with you?
John Dunne, Director General of the UK Vaping Industry Association told Planet of the Vapes: “The UKVIA is extremely concerned to hear of any disruption to deliveries of vaping products experienced by our members or any other businesses in the sector. We will be closely looking into the response to this survey, to gauge the severity of the problems faced by businesses. The UKVIA will then be in a better position to take up these concerns on behalf of our members and the wider industry. I would encourage everyone eligible to take part in the survey or to get in contact with the UKVIA directly to flag up any individual logistics issues”
References:
- UK’s Vapemail Ban - https://www.planetofthevapes.co.uk/news/vaping-news/2021-03-29_uk-s-vapemail-ban.html
- The UK Vaping Industry Association - https://www.ukvia.co.uk/
- UKVIA Vaping Industry Logistics Survey - https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/2YYZYJW
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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