Hi, blownupdolly,
I completely understand - and share - your concern. It is VITALLY important that the consumer's voice is heard in all of this. In every discussion I (and my colleagues) have with policy-makers, we are always keen to stress the point that the most important stakeholders in all this are US, the consumers!!!!! Frankly, the industry's interests are their own business. Obviously, I have to take them into consideration in my business role, but perhaps I should elucidate a little more of my own history, by way of (hopefully!) further reassurance:
The whole reason why I wanted to start ECITA (I believe Simon's was perhaps slightly more focussed towards his business and his staff - which is fair enough) was that I had started vaping the year before, and
found my freedom, just like the rest of you. This was my own personal miracle. Friends who had known me for years were absolutely dumbfounded that I, of all people, had allowed something to persuade me away from the cancer sticks which were NEVER far from reach before!
Also, of course, having lost my husband to cancer at the age of 31, I was delighted at the hope this could offer to other families, of NOT having to go through what we did. (Even now, whenever my daughter bemoans the unfairness of her dad's untimely passing, I feel a wave of empathetic relief that I am in a position to do something to help some other families avoid having to have such awful conversations!)
When the MHRA first threatened to take ecigs away, in February 2010, I was outraged and disgusted. I am someone who doesn't get mad; I get even. I had already had the opportunity to work with some vendors, so knew a little about the industry's workings; and from forum chat, I had gathered that there were a few issues which would need to be improved upon if my new hobby was not going to remain open to threat.
For me, the solution seemed obvious: get the industry to clean up its act, get its house in order, and EARN some credibility, and then we vapers might just have a chance of being able to continue to source the products we want from the companies we want to buy them from. With my experience as a legal secretary, and having had a cursory look over the legislation which already covered these products OUTSIDE of medicinal regulation, the ECITA concept was a pretty obvious next step. So here we are.
My endless frustration is the fact that I had to choose: do I represent the 'little guy', or do I get the 'bigger guys' to behave better, and thus better serve the needs of the 'little guy' by continuing to give them what they want? That wasn't actually that difficult a choice. It was blindingly obvious to me at that stage that it was the industry that was being targeted, albeit that it was the consumers who would ultimately suffer as well, so it was the industry that needed my help (and bullying, and persuading, and kicking up the bum to get their f***ing house in order!
)
I guess my point is this: ECCA is going to struggle to get off the ground. We've all seen that. I truly hope someone can grab it by the horns and drag it into line, but with so many different opinions, it will take a helluva personality to pull it off. (I was slightly more fortunate in getting the industry lined up, since I was offering an appealing alternative to their impending doom, although even then, there was significant dissent at the beginning, which is why we had only a paltry 7 founding members.) It took enormous persistence and determination to pull off ECITA, and I am enormously proud of what we have achieved. ECCA will have to work very hard to get something similar to happen, and I fear it may not, at least not in time to make enough of a difference to this particular course of events we are all currently 'enjoying'!
For this reason, as throughout, there has ALWAYS been an element of consumer focus to ECITA's activities. Even after what went on last year with the demise of UKV1, I have still tried my best to keep in touch with the community - of which I am a proud member - and try in everything I do to look out for the needs of the consumers. This is especially true when it comes to the political activity we have increasingly been involved in.
I imagine it isn't much of a consolation, but we ARE here for you, and will continue to do our best to ensure that you are kept informed, and that what YOU want is conveyed to the policy-makers when we are speaking with them. But more importantly, that you have the information you need to be able to take your own direct action. Some of you may have noticed the significant increase over the past 6-8 months of documents for download from our website, such as the 2-sided handout, the legal summary, etc. These documents have been deliberately provided by us to you guys, so that you have the ammunition you need to make your own arguments to your elected representatives - and anyone else who will listen!
Also, bear in mind that as EU vaper/consumers, there are strong consumer groups in other Member States who are getting the important messages out there. This includes one that we explained to Chris Davies, MEP, and were delighted to hear him repeat so powerfully in Committee, concerning the vital importance of a wide range of flavourings, to keep vapers vaping and not relapsing to smoking.
If you look at our members' list, you will see a lot of cigalike companies. They are there for all to see. And they have by far the biggest market share - at the moment. However, we also have the likes of Liberty Flights (founding members), ECig Wizard, and of course, my brother's company, Decadent Vapours - who only make eliquid, and who are responsible for the plethora of flavours which have evolved over the years. Therefore, even if I were ONLY looking out for the interests of my members (which I am not!) then I would still be pressing for public policy which allows for ALL the products sold by ALL our members. Such policy would also cover all the products sold by the vendors you all use, so you see, our interests are more aligned than some might think at first glance.
I do hope this can reassure you all. I shall continue to fight for this til my dying breath, and I am ensuring that we have a strong and capable team to continue the work when I am gone, so that ALL of us - now and in the future - have the freedom to choose for ourselves. My sincere hope is that no-one else has to explain to their 3 year old daughter that Daddy isn't coming home, and then continually have to agree with them that no, it isn't fair that Daddy isn't coming home.
Happy vaping, one and all,
Katherine
)
