The Electronic Cigarette Trade Association (Ecta)

[kanadiankat]

The Electronic Cigarette Trade Association (ECTA) of Canada was formed last week. This Association was born from several months of discussions between competing Canadian vendors, consultants and legal advisors.

What is ECTA
ECTA Canada is a newly formed, industry-wide body that will create standards for the electronic cigarette industry in Canada.

The Association will follow the basic outline of ECITA (The Electronic Cigarette Industry Trade Association) – which is active in the UK and the EU, have faced similar policy issues that Canadians are struggling with, and have been successful in gaining market approval for their industry and engaging the participation of government regulators.

What does ECTA hope to Accomplish
ECTA is working to accomplish full and open market approval for all hardware, eliquid with and without nicotine – and businesses trading in electronic cigarettes as a “tobacco harm-reduction product”.

This involves compiling standards for the industry based on existing legislation and known product issues. ECTA will be assisting member businesses in reaching those standards and then ensuring that the standards are maintained.

These standards will cover everything from proper documentation for hardware, blind testing on eliquid, labelling, user manuals, standards for storage and marketing claims. Basically taking the industry from its current “wild-west” mentality to where it can be effectively monitored checked and corrected.

Who is going to do all this and will it be impartial?
ECTA has retained the services of an independent 3^rd party contractor to carry out legal research, test products, identify issues, assist members with compliance, perform audits and maintain records. ECTA will work with members of the legal profession as required and invite interaction with government regulators as the process develops.

Who is involved
ECTA was officially formed on November 17^th by 6 Canadian Vendors. Two more founding members were added within a week. These vendors serve as the ECTA Board of Directors and have committed their resources to fund ECTA and provide leadership for the industry as it goes forward. ECTA is still seeking the involvement of 2 more Founding Members (though open to 4 – for a total of 12).

The ECTA website is currently under construction. It will feature logos, news, updates and links to the founding member businesses. Founding members will also be identifiable by an ECTA compliant logo on their website. We will publish the website as soon as it’s ready.

As soon as ECTA has a full Board of Directors in place, we will be creating Members categories – to welcome many of the smaller or newer businesses who have been involved in discussions and/or interested in ECTA, as well as all businesses across Canada who are trading in electronic cigarettes as tobacco harm-reduction products. Every member – regardless of whether a Director or general member – will be held to the same standards of compliance, will have a vote and a voice in the Association.
If you have any questions - feel free to ask them here.

[NoizMaker]

Proud day to be a Canadian! Thank you Kat and the whole of the ETCA for finally accomplishing the first truly solid step forward!

[Switched]

Good news One question. Who is on the board of directors?

[robcope]

Hopefully they don't get to involved, over regulation can be just as bad if not worse then under regulation. Ensuring things are safe is one thing, but the wild west mentality is what has brought the industry so far in such a short time. Good luck and I do hope it all works as intended and doesn't just become something that is over regulated and over taxed.

[Mindfield]

I'm excited to hear an official announcement! I was talking with Sebastien at CEV last night and he had to cut the conversation short to attend the meeting, so it seemed like things were really getting under way, and this announcement shows that we've really, finally started down the road to some real regulation and standing that I am very hopeful can finally put together something real and substantial to bring to HC so that we can, with any luck and some hard work by our vendors, finally legitimize the E-cig and juice market in Canada. I know it's probably still a long road to travel yet, but at least we're making some tire tracks on it now.

[kanadiankat]

Good news One question. Who is on the board of directors?

Some of the Board are not registered suppliers, or active on the forum - so we are not announcing that here. That will be published on our website - which should be completed soon.

As the membership grows there will also be links to and from every members page.

[kanadiankat]

Hopefully they don't get to involved, over regulation can be just as bad if not worse then under regulation. Ensuring things are safe is one thing, but the wild west mentality is what has brought the industry so far in such a short time. Good luck and I do hope it all works as intended and doesn't just become something that is over regulated and over taxed.

Generally when an industry begins self regulating - it goes to a good place.

I'm failing to see how the "wild west mentality has brought the industry so far in such a short time"?? Could you explain a bit further?

The ecig industry has been inside Canadian borders for a few years now and most consumers don't even know what it is, advertising is next to impossible, people can't find products, can't pay using conventional means, order from outside the country and then have their items seized, or held for crazy amounts of time, have no way of knowing if the products will still be available tomorrow or next week.

The industry will be regulated - at some point - it has to be. Question is - who do you want doing this - some government committee that has no idea what the product is or can be - or the people who truely care about it's future?

As for taxes - well - if the government wants to set some special tax on ecigs (and there is no indication of that yet) - wouldn't it be better to have an educated and informed public making sure that discussion is open and transparent - rather than via some back door deal that no one knows or cares about?

Edit: I do get what you're saying about "over-regulation" - that usually happens though when a product or industry has somehow allowed their products to get outside of conventional controls and end up in a situation where there is potential harm or danger to the public. I know we're all hoping that never happens - but regulations are the only way to ensure it doesn't (and that if it does - it won't tear down the entire industry).

[Motivaper]

This is a huge step in the right direction - thank you to those vendors and individuals involved in creating ECTA!

I will certainly be signing on to participate in any way I can to further the cause of fair regulation, and once ECTA gets rolling, I believe all consumers will benefit by regulators awareness that vendors want to be regulated, not ignored or banned!

Keep the vape train rollin'!

[Chime]

Thanks for taking the fight to the hill so they can get the vendor side of the battle officialy, and hopefully it'll pave the way eventually for some of the consumer side. Beats just having it randomly dictated out by HC that's for sure.

[VIVAP2]

Ah, now I understand why I couldn't find anything relevant about ECTA when I seached it on the web last week. One day, I'll have the picture of the founder hanging on the wall of my office! Great initiative! I am a strong believer!