ASSOCIATION MEMBER CODE OF RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT

OUR MISSION

Founded in 2022, The Vape Association of Trinidad and Tobago (VAPETT). Our mission and Code of Responsible Conduct is intended to responsibly and appropriately maintain safer access to nicotine in the form of vapor products for adult smokers and nicotine consumers of legal age.

VAPETT members commit to The Code of Responsible Conduct (“Code”) by promoting responsible Advertising, Marketing, Packaging, Sales, Distribution, Transportation, and Disposal according to the guidelines presented in this Code and agree to hold themselves to a higher standard than required. 

The Association provides guidance on compliance with the Code to all members involved in the promotion of their respective brands.

Scope 

The Code of Responsible Conduct applies to all activities required to advertise, market, sell, distribute, transport, and dispose of vapor products, including product advertising, consumer communications, distribution, transportation, and disposal.

The Code applies to: All Vape Vendor Members

•  Never knowingly sell vape products to anyone under the age of 18 or anyone purchasing on their behalf.  
• Ensure safeguards are in place to prevent anyone under the age of 18 purchasing vape products online.  
• Never knowingly market to anyone who is not a current or former smoker, or a current vaper.  
• Unless selling a medicinally authorized vape product, avoid claiming any health benefits from the use of vape products.  
• Ensure that all reasonable efforts are made to abide by the laws and regulations governing the manufacture, import, distribution, and sale of vape products.  
• Take a positive and responsible attitude towards product stewardship.  
• Never sell counterfeit products. If you do - ensure customer knows its a clone.  
• Respect Intellectual Property and legal commercial agreements, including Trade Marks, Patents, Licenses, Goodwill, and Distribution Agreements.  
• Never knowingly sell a product known to be detrimental to vapers’ short term or long term health.  
• Keep records of adverse effects and incidents involving any products you have manufactured, imported, or sold and where necessary notify the Vape Association of Trinidad and Tobago.  
• Never knowingly engage in activities likely to bring the independent vape sector into disrepute.  
• Never knowingly misrepresent products’ safety or performance criteria.  
• Provide suitable warranties and guarantees consistent with prevailing consumer and sector related legislation and when defined, VAPETT best practice. 

VAPETT members understand it is not possible to address every eventuality and, therefore, agree to observe the spirit, as well as the letter, of the Code of Responsible Conduct.

Questions about the interpretation of the Code, member companies' compliance with the Code, and the application of its provisions should be directed to VAPETT’s Board of Directors.

Advertising

·  No Health, Safety, or Cessation Claims - While vapor products have the potential to positively impact the public health hazards caused by combustible tobacco cigarettes, VAPETT members may not make implicit or explicit health, safety, therapeutic, curative, or cessation claims about the products they sell, whether in digital, print, or aural form. Such claims would grant FDA jurisdiction over the product as a pharmaceutical product.

Marketing

VAPETT MEMBERS DO NOT MARKET TO MINORS.

·  Prohibit the use of “child-friendly” or “childish” marketing images, names, practices, or ads such as superheroes, food, media characters, cartoon characters, babies, animals, toys, candy, or otherwise, that might appeal to under-age persons.

·  Prohibit the use of others’ intellectual property.

·  Branded/logoed apparel will be limited to adult sizes.

·  Ensure business name, address, and contact information are on all products or inserts and website.

 ·  Website must carry a two stage age verification process for any sales transaction.

·  Prohibit the sponsorship of events for youth specifically or where an event would be a mix of those under the lawful legal age to vape and over.

Deceptive or Derogatory Marketing

VAPETT members agree to maintain reasonable standards in their marketing and to not engage in marketing or advertising that would be considered deceptive or defamatory, or create a negative impression of the vapor industry.

Sales

·  Age Verification Policy for online and face-to-face purchases.

·  VAPETT members may not sell to purchasers under the legal age of 18+.

·  For online sales, age verification at checkout executed by 2 stage verification (3rd party app and voice call).

·  Age verification before completion of face-to-face transactions or as required by local, state, and federal law.

• No selling or delivering to an underage person, as determined by the applicable law of the place of delivery.  This requires that delivery be signed and accepted by an adult who must provide identification verifying he or she is at least the minimum age required to purchase the product.  The seller also cannot accept an online order from a person without obtaining the person’s name, birth date, and address, and verifying this information.

·  Members are strongly encouraged to participate in the Age ID Program supplied by VAPETT.

Distribution and Transportation

Disposal

·  Proper disposal and/or recycling of lithium ion batteries.

·  Follow Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines and any other state and local laws for the disposal of hazardous waste (Nicotine, Vegetable Glycerin, Propylene Glycol).

Code Review Process

The VAPETT Board of directors has all rights to audit the sale procedures used by its members who operate at the retail level. This is the ensure the Code of Responsible Conduct is followed. Any member that dishonor the code will be evicted of membership.