It was ten years ago today when the NNA first became an educational charity.
Trustees of the organisation had previously met while fighting against the European Union’s Tobacco Products Directive, alongside other European consumers, which was attempting to regulate e-cigarettes to be licensed only as medicinal products. This was a clear attempt by the EU to eradicate vaping in its infancy.
Thanks to the weight of consumer action, all of whom had quit smoking by using the new technology, and a few very brave and outspoken MEPs, the threat was avoided and the NNA formalised as a consumer association a short time later, only the second association of its kind in the world.
Over the next decade, the NNA has consistently championed the cause of tobacco harm reduction both in this country and beyond, and has become a well-renowned voice in the harm reduction debate. These are just some of the activities that NNA trustees, associates and supporters have engaged in during those years.
- Advised government departments, politicians, parliamentary groups and committees on vaping and other reduced risk nicotine products from a consumer viewpoint
- Submitted comments and consultation responses to numerous government initiatives
- Provided commentary and explainer articles to consumers on public health policy developments.
- Regularly contributed to academic research on tobacco harm reduction projects
- Produced video guides on the role of e-cigarettes for tobacco harm reduction in supporting smoking relapse prevention.
- Taken part in virtual and in-person panel discussions and produced educational and instructional webinars
- Communicated with UK consumers, on our website and via email, to raise awareness of petitions, government consultation exercises, and public health reports.
- Given expert consumer and advocacy briefings to a variety of print, TV, radio, and online media
- Developed policy proposals towards prospective government regulations
- Engaged with the British Standards Institute (BSI) to formulate standards for e-cigarettes and e-liquids.
We are also proud to have been a founder member of European Tobacco Harm Reduction Associates (ETHRA) which formed in 2019 and now represents over 27 million consumers from 24 grassroots associations in 17 European countries, including sister organisations of the NNA based in Sweden and Estonia.
Despite operating on a shoestring budget the NNA is respected, and active both nationally and internationally, punching well above our weight. We are regularly reminded of this with the numerous Freedom of Information Requests that have been lodged to read our correspondence with government departments, each one just serving to highlight the quality of the information we present.
Sadly, tobacco harm reduction has been beset during the past decade with dire misinformation which has frustrated not only consumers, but public health advocates and charities too, often by the same people and misguided agencies who should know better.
However, as we move past our first decade, we will continue to advocate for the wide availability of low risk products as a choice that consumers should be able to make for the good of public health. We know that this is the right path, as do the many millions who have benefitted from safer nicotine products, and that our actions are correct.
How you can help for the next decade
As mentioned before, we do all this on a very limited budget. All NNA Trustees are unpaid and advocate on a voluntary basis, but we endure administration costs that must come out of our finances.
We rely on you, our supporters, to help us carry on what we are doing and can only do so with your regular donations. Most consumers and responsible public health advocates believed that harm reduction would have been recognised and celebrated by now, but while there are still bad actors willing to promote misinformation, there is still work to do.
Please do consider donating to our charity, however large or small, so that we can continue to work in your interests. You can view our GoFundMe page here.
Better still, why not join the NNA and help us in the next ten years. We have produced a prospectus for those who would like to hear more about what we do here.
