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** 8 July 2026
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** UK
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** UK Vaping Industry Association Forum to discuss Vaping Products Duty and upcoming regulation (#1)
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** Doncaster woman shares quit-smoking journey to encourage others (#2)
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** Health groups urge Burnham to reconsider UK-US medicines agreement (#3)
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** Nicotine pouch retailer Haypp urges drivers not to leave vapes in cars during heatwave (#4)
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** International
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** Hawai'i tightens restrictions on vaping products (#5)
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** India: Legal dispute grows over nicotine pouch sales at Mumbai airport duty-free shops (#6)
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** New Zealand: Survey finds almost 14% of New Zealand teenagers vape daily as Wairoa mayor seeks tighter controls over vape shops (#7)
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** Australia: Western Australia’s largest mental health provider increases smoking cessation support (#8)
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** Parliamentary activity
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** Written answers (#9)
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** UK
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** UK Vaping Industry Association Forum to discuss Vaping Products Duty and upcoming regulation

The UK Vaping Industry Association will hold its annual forum in London on 13 July, bringing together representatives from industry, government agencies, parliamentarians, public health, retail and regulatory bodies to discuss policy changes affecting the vaping sector. Discussions are expected to focus on the introduction of the Vaping Products Duty in October and upcoming regulations through the Tobacco and Vapes Act covering areas such as flavours, packaging, advertising and product displays.

The forum will feature a discussion between the UKVIA director John Dunne and HMRC, aimed at helping businesses prepare for the upcoming Vaping Products Duty. The forum will also unveil new research on the impact of the Vaping Products Duty and Freedom of Information data on flavour use in local stop smoking services. Other sessions will cover retailer licensing and measures to strengthen enforcement against illegal sales.

Source: Asian Trader, 7 July 2026

Editorial note: This article has been included to provide insight into market trends and industry developments.
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** Doncaster woman shares quit-smoking journey to encourage others

Helen Parker from Doncaster who smoked for more than 50 years is encouraging others to seek support to quit smoking after a lung health assessment highlighted her increased risk of developing lung cancer. She credits personalised support from the SmokeFree Starts programme, including one-to-one advice and the use of a vape as part of smoking cessation, with helping her remain smoke-free for eight months.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of free stop smoking services available across South Yorkshire, offering tailored support. It also highlights evidence that people who use specialist services alongside approved quitting aids are around three times more likely to stop smoking successfully than those attempting to quit without support.

The article notes that 12.6% of adults in South Yorkshire smoke, compared with 10.4% across England, while only 5% of smokers currently access specialist stop smoking services.

Source: Doncaster Free Press, 2 July 2026
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** Health groups urge Burnham to reconsider UK-US medicines agreement

19 healthcare organisations have written to Andy Burnham, urging him to abandon the UK-US medicines agreement if he becomes prime minister, arguing that the policy could place significant financial pressure on the NHS. Analysis in the BMJ has shown that the deal could mean the NHS would have to divert £45 billion away from essential services to pay for the new medicines, which could lead to over 200,000 preventable deaths.

The letter, coordinated by the SOS NHS coalition, calls on Burnham to make a “decisive break” from the policy. Signatories include the Doctors’ Association UK and Doctors in Unite. The groups are also urging wider changes to NHS policy, including a review of private sector involvement.

The government has defended the agreement, maintaining that it will improve access to innovative treatments and strengthen the UK's pharmaceutical trade with the United States. Burnham has not publicly responded to the campaigners' requests.

Source: The Guardian, 7 July 2026

See also: Cross S, Claxton K, Hill A. Health costs of the UK-US trade deal on pharmaceuticals ([link removed]) BMJ 2026; 394 :e340588 doi:10.1136/bmj-2026-340588
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** Nicotine pouch retailer Haypp urges drivers not to leave vapes in cars during heatwave

Nicotine pouch retailer Haypp has urged motorists to avoid leaving vaping devices inside parked vehicles during the heatwave in the UK, as high temperatures can damage lithium-ion batteries and increase the risk of overheating, leaks or, in rare cases, fire.

Source: Daily Mirror, 7 July 2026

Editorial note: This article has been included to provide insight into market trends and industry developments.

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** International
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** Hawai'i tightens restrictions on vaping products

Hawai'i has introduced new legislation that will significantly reduce the range of vaping products available for sale from 2027. The measures include a ban on disposable vapes and will restrict retail sales to products that have received authorisation from the US Food and Drug Administration, alongside new registration requirements and financial penalties for businesses that fail to comply.

Source: Aloha State Daily, 8 July 2026

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** India: Legal dispute grows over nicotine pouch sales at Mumbai airport duty-free shops

An Indian government investigation has concluded that nicotine pouches were being sold at duty-free outlets at Mumbai’s international airport without the necessary approvals. India has previously banned vaping products, and approved some nicotine replacements such as patches, but nicotine pouches remain unapproved. The stores, operated by a joint venture involving the Adani Group, were instructed to stop the sale of nicotine pouches and seek approvals.

The business rejects this interpretation and has challenged the action in court, arguing that duty-free retail areas are not subject to the same domestic rules and that nicotine pouches should not be classified under the relevant legislation. The case, which is due to be heard later this month, could shape how nicotine pouches are regulated and sold at airports across India.

Source: Reuters, 7 July 2026

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** New Zealand: Survey finds almost 14% of New Zealand teenagers vape daily as Wairoa mayor seeks tighter controls over vape shops

Wairoa’s mayor is urging the New Zealand Government to give councils greater authority to limit the number of vape shops, arguing that the growth in shops has made vaping increasingly visible and accessible to young people. He is seeking support from other councils and intends to raise the issue at the next Local Government New Zealand annual general meeting.

The concerns come as a 2024/25 Health NZ survey found that almost 14% of 15 to 17-year-olds vape daily, with Māori young people disproportionately affected. Separate research by the University of Canterbury found that 81% of vape shops are located within 800 metres of schools.

Source: RNZ, 8 July 2026

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** Australia: Western Australia’s largest mental health provider increases smoking cessation support

Richmind WA, Western Australia’s largest mental health provider, has strengthened its approach to helping both clients and employees stop smoking and vaping by taking part in a health initiative delivered in partnership with Cancer Council WA. The organisation has introduced changes across its services to make cessation support a routine part of care, alongside measures designed to promote smoke-free and vape-free settings.

The initiative recognises that people living with mental health conditions are more likely to use tobacco and nicotine products and can face greater challenges when trying to quit. By embedding practical support into everyday services, Richmind WA aims to improve long-term health and wellbeing for the people it supports.

Source: Mirage News, 8 July 2026

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** Parliamentary activity
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** Written answers

Asked by Kevin Hollinrake MP, Conservative, Thirsk and Malton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Department for Business and Trade has made any assessment of the potential effect of the measures in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill on (a) restaurants, (b) pubs, (c) small and independent retailers.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson MP, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Labour, Washington and Gateshead South

The Department published an impact assessment for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill during its parliamentary passage. This included analysis of the expected impact on businesses from the bill measures, including small and micro businesses, retailers, and the hospitality sector.

Broadly, the analysis concluded that the measures in the bill will introduce some cost to business, including familiarisation costs and potential impacts from reduced tobacco, vape, and nicotine product sales and lost profits. We also expect that the bill’s measures will deliver a range of benefits, particularly wider public health benefits. For example, the smoke-free generation policy is expected to deliver significant health benefits to individuals and reductions to the National Health Service, social care, and productivity costs by reducing the number of people taking up smoking. Overall, the estimated net benefit of the smoke-free generation policy is over £30 billion, in 2024 prices, over 30 years.

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** Asked by Kevin Hollinrake MP, Conservative, Thirsk and Malton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the proposed ban on vaping inside pubs would be scored as a regulatory burden on pubs.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson MP, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Labour, Washington and Gateshead South

Between 13 February and 8 May, the Department consulted on proposals to extend vape-free requirements to all indoor settings in England that are already smoke-free, including pubs. The aim of these proposals is to help protect children and medically vulnerable people who may otherwise be exposed to prolonged contact, through no choice of their own, with second-hand aerosols from vaping.

In designing the proposals, we have carefully considered the potential burden that they may introduce on businesses and have sought to mitigate these where possible, including for example through avoiding administrative burdens such as compliance reporting. In the consultation stage impact assessment published alongside the consultation we did, however, assess that our proposals would introduce some regulatory burden on pubs and other relevant indoor settings, primarily in relation to one-off familiarisation and signage costs. We also expect the proposals would deliver a range of benefits, particularly wider public health benefits. We sought feedback on the analysis included within the impact assessment during the consultation and are currently considering the responses we received.

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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.

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