MORE Benefits of VTA Membership

Membership in the Vapor Technology Association is an invitation into an active, engaged community that is defending harm-reducing vapor products with access to VTA’s unique and specialized experience in legislative and regulatory issues.

An Established Leader: VTA was the vapor and tobacco industry’s trade association with a seat at the table when the Trump Administration convened the historic stakeholder meeting on November 22, 2019 at the White House to discuss flavors.  VTA was able to tout the merits of its 21 & Done! comprehensive plan to eliminate youth use of e-cigarettes, as an alternative to an industry-decimating flavor ban, and present that plan directly to the President.

Federal Lobbying:  VTA’s lobbyists have protected the full distribution chain of vapor products – from manufacturer to retailer – on Capitol Hill.  VTA’s federal team has weighed in on every issue  important to our industry by engaging Members of Congress and their staffs, the White House, the Vice President’s office, and appearing before every relevant agency including Health & Human Services, Food & Drug Administration, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Federal Trade Commission, Customs & Border Protection, Small Business Administration and the United States Trade Representative. 

State Legislative Advocacy:  Representation at the state level was a key driver for the founding of VTA and part of its original vision. VTA is the only national trade association in the vapor and tobacco space to have engaged lobbying teams on the ground in state capitols throughout the country. At its peak, the program boasted the largest network of trade organization lobbyists and state vapor retail associations in the nation – 40 states in 2019-2020.  VTA’s multi-state legislative advocacy efforts, run by state government affairs professionals, have secured critical regulatory wins throughout the country, defeating or amending bad bills and passing model legislation to protect the industry.  

Expertise:  VTA’s expertise on vapor legislation, FDA regulations and strategy is unparalleled, and VTA shares its knowledge with timely legislative analyses and regulatory news updates provided to current members.   

Economic Experts:  VTA conducted the first professional Economic Impact Study for the vapor industry which relies on data and economic models to show the enormous economic impact of the vapor industry. VTA’s economists have provided whatever information we needed to push back on vapor taxes proposed at the federal, state and municipal levels.    

Advocacy Campaigns:  VTA’s expertise in developing and implementing successful advocacy campaigns is unparalleled.  VTA’s has lead some of the industry’s most impactful campaigns.  Our 2018 “I Am Not An Anecdote” campaign delivered more than 9300 declarations, sworn under the penalty of perjury, to the FDA from consumers who declared the importance of flavored vapors products to their quit attempts.  And in 2019, VTA’s multi-media campaign, which included the industry’s first television advertisements, was credited by the national media as causing the Administration to reverse course on the announced full flavor ban.

Tools to Amplify Voices for Vaping:  VTA offers its members the tools to amplify the Voices for Vaping by sending emails or making calls directly to legislators and regulators.   Voices For Vaping was VTA’s ground-breaking platform that serves to provided a united voice for our industry.   In addition, VTA provides its Value of Vapor interactive tool so that advocates throughout the country can show, down to the state legislative district level, the importance of vapor to state and local economies.   

Legal Services: In addition to the myriad services and benefits they provide, the VTA has been instrumental in the strategic deployment of legal actions to defend vapor in multiple states that were confronted with reckless, executive order flavor bans in 2019.  In addition, VTA has sued FDA over the PMTA deadline and was prepared to walk into federal court immediately if the Administration banned all flavors.  Through strong financial commitment and expert legal maneuvering, the VTA was able to secure our right to flavors in nearly all states that were under attack.   In addition, VTA provides regulatory guidance for its members based on its expert knowledge and experience in the industry.   Specifically, VTA’s FDA Compliance Arm will provide guidance from seasoned attorneys specializing in FDA and tobacco compliance issues to our members as we continue to engage with FDA on PMTA and every other compliance issue.