Reply sent to Association of Independent Tobacco Specialists from RPC Chair, 14 September 2026
Published 15 September 2026
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Sent via email to: Association of Independent Tobacco Specialists
14 September 2026
Dear [redacted]
Government proposals for regulating tobacco, vaping and nicotine product packaging, device appearance and retail displays, to implement the Tobacco and Vapes Act
I am writing to respond to your correspondence dated 31 August 2026, in which you requested a meeting with the Regulatory Policy Committee secretariat to discuss the impact assessments for the ongoing government consultation on the regulation of tobacco, vaping and nicotine products.
The government is required, under Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, to protect public policy from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry.
We are therefore unable to meet you to discuss your concerns. We suggest that you send any comments that you may have about the consultation stage impact assessments to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) as part of your response to the consultation.
In line with DHSC’s guidance on the operation of Article 5.3, we will be publishing both your correspondence and this reply on our website on GOV.UK.
Yours sincerely
Stephen Gibson
Chair, Regulatory Policy Committee