UK Vape Industry Association Admits New Members

The UK Vape Industry Association (UKVIA) announced on Friday that it is expanding its membership after a successful year representing the industry.

In a newsletter, the three-year-old UKVIA stated that UK-based eig-direct and Oxford Vapours, along with the first overseas members SMOK, Innokin, and FlavorIQ, are joining the organization.

ECig-Direct, established in 2008, is a supplier of vaping devices and e-liquids in the UK, while Oxford Vapours provides e-liquids, vaping devices, and accessories to customers in the UK and Scandinavia through its retail stores and online services.

Smok and Innokin are the first Chinese members to join UKVIA, and they are expected to bring extensive global vaping market knowledge to the association.

Founded in 2010, Smok is a leading brand of Shenzhen IVPS Technology, a manufacturer of electronic cigarettes. The company reportedly sells its e-liquids and vaping devices to 80 million customers in 50 countries.

Innokin is said to design and manufacture several internationally recognized vaping products from its base in China. Its products are available in over 5,000 vape shops in the United States, serviced by its California-based customer headquarters.

FlavorIQ, one of Europe's leading e-liquid suppliers, is joining UKVIA as an associate member. This German manufacturer began in 2014 as a subsidiary of Hertz Flavors, a major producer of tobacco flavors. Through this partnership, FlavorIQ brings 60 years of flavoring expertise into the e-cigarette market.

A spokesperson for UKVIA stated: "As the leading trade body for the UK vaping market, we are delighted to welcome some of the most recognized vaping brands as members of the association."

"UKVIA has been dedicated to setting the public health and policy agenda for the industry and has made remarkable progress.

"We now look forward to working with our new domestic and international members to make a real impact in reducing harm for smokers in the UK and globally."