Latest news with #ScottishGrocers'Federation
STV News
3 days ago
- Business
- STV News
What is the new law on vapes when does it come into force?
From Sunday, it will be illegal for any business in the UK to sell or supply single-use, disposable vapes. It aims to reduce waste, protect the environment, and discourage young people from developing the habit. Those found breaking the law and selling disposable vapes after June 1 could face a fine or a prison sentence of up to two years. The Scottish Grocers' Federation (SGF) advised retailers to stay on the right side of the law after the deadline. 'There is no transitional period in play here,' chief executive Pete Cheema said. 'From June 1, it will be an offence for a person or business to supply or offer to supply single-use vapes – or have them in their possession for supply, 'Any leftover stock, come that date, must be discontinued and stored separately from items for sale, clearly marked as 'not for sale'.' For Scottish consumers, it means that single-use, disposable vapes will no longer be available for purchase. From June 1, if vapers want to continue with their habit, they will need to switch to more sustainable, rechargeable, and refillable vape options. That's likely to come with a higher price tag. For retailers, it means that it will be an offence to supply, or have in their possession for supply, single-use vapes. Any leftover stock must be discontinued and stored separately from items for sale, clearly marked as 'Not for Sale'. The Scottish Parliament passed legislation to ban the sale of disposable vapes last year but enforcement was delayed so that it could coincide with similar laws in England and Wales. The law makes it illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, and gives new powers to local authorities to issue fixed penalty notices to people breaching the age of sale legislation for both tobacco products and vapes. According to the Scottish Government, an estimated 26m disposable vapes were thrown away in Scotland in 2023. It was estimated that almost five million single-use vapes were either littered or thrown away in general waste every week in the UK. That's the equivalent of eight being thrown away per second. 'Litter is one of the reasons we're doing that – the lack of people properly disposing of them is a real issue,' Gillian Martin, acting cabinet secretary for net-zero and energy, said. Barry Fisher, chief executive of environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, said disposable vapes were becoming 'more and more common', 'spoiling' the environment, and causing danger to wildlife. 'We are dealing with a litter emergency and the last thing we need is single-use products coming to market that can end up discarded harming our environment,' Mr Fisher said. 'This ban will help remove the fastest growing litter item from our streets, parks and beaches and is a welcome step in the right direction, but everyone must dispose of their waste in the correct way.' There's a health aspect to the ban as well, as vaping continues to become more popular among children and young people. In 2023, 20.5% of children had tried vaping, up from 15.8% in 2022 and 13.9% in 2020 'One of the issues around disposable vapes is they're attractive to children who shouldn't really be vaping at all,' Martin said. 'They're not stopping smoking necessarily, they're actually picking up another habit. So there's a health aspect to this as well.' Former health minister Andrew Gwynne previously added: 'It's deeply worrying that a quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds used a vape last year and we know disposables are the product of choice for the majority of kids vaping today. 'Banning disposable vapes will not only protect the environment but importantly reduce the appeal of vapes to children and keep them out of the hands of vulnerable young people.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Scottish Grocers' Federation helping Lanarkshire retailers prepare for upcoming single-use vaping products sale ban
The convenience store trade body has issued an updated retailers' guide on regulations for vaping and tobacco compliance, as well as a poster which it is encouraging members to display in their stores. The Scottish Grocers' Federation (SGF) is helping retailers in Lanarkshire to prepare for a legal milestone - and stay on the right side of the law Shop staff in Lanarkshire are being urged not to be caught out by the upcoming ban on selling single-use vaping products. The SGF is highlighting how single-use vapes – including those which are non-refillable and non-rechargable - will be banned from June 1, with the Scottish Government bringing in the new law in-line with the rest of the UK. SGF, the convenience store trade body, has issued an updated retailers' guide on regulations for vaping and tobacco compliance, as well as a poster which it is encouraging members to display in their stores. Pete Cheema, SGF's chief executive, said: 'Our members, including those across Lanarkshire, are committed to responsible local retailing and operating within the law. 'It's important that we do all we can to help ensure they are fully prepared for this significant change, so that staff and customers are all properly educated about what the new law entails. 'There is no transitional period in play here. From June 1, it will be an offence for a person or business to supply or offer to supply single-use vapes - or have them in their possession for supply. Any leftover stock come that date must be discontinued and stored separately from items for sale, clearly marked as 'not for sale'. 'We are recommending that any of our members with concerns about complying with the ban contact their local trading standards team to ensure they are operating within the law.' SGF is working with Police Scotland and trading standards nationally to help ensure its members comply with the ban - as well as to clampdown on any illicit trade after June 1. Those found to have broken the law could face a fine or a prison sentence of up to two years. The new law - The Environmental Protection (Single-Use Vapes) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 - is the first of two major legal changes around the use and sale of vaping products. Further regulations are expected to be introduced through the UK Government's Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is currently being debated in the House of Lords. This is expected to be introduced in Scotland through secondary legislation in the Scottish Parliament. SGF continues to oppose restrictions on flavour in vaping products, a proven factor in helping people switch from cigarettes to less harmful vapes. *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here. And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
West Lothian retailers told to prepare for single-use vaping products sale ban
The Scottish Grocers' Federation (SGF) is helping retailers across the region to ensure they are ready to stay on the right side of the law. Shop staff in West Lothian are being urged not to be caught out by the upcoming ban on selling single-use vaping products. The Scottish Grocers' Federation (SGF) is helping retailers across the region to ensure they are ready to stay on the right side of the law. Single-use vapes - including those which are non-refillable and non-rechargable - will be banned from June 1, with the Scottish Government bringing in the new law in-line with the rest of the United Kingdom. SGF, the convenience store trade body, has issued an updated retailers' guide on regulations for vaping and tobacco compliance, as well as a poster which it is encouraging members to display in their stores. Pete Cheema, SGF's Chief Executive, said: 'Our members - including those across West Lothian - are committed to responsible local retailing and operating within the law. It's important that we do all we can to help ensure they are fully prepared for this significant change, so that staff and customers are all properly educated about what the new law entails. 'There is no transitional period in play here. From June 1, it will be an offence for a person or business to supply or offer to supply single-use vapes - or have them in their possession for supply. 'Any leftover stock come that date must be discontinued and stored separately from items for sale, clearly marked as 'not for sale'. 'We are recommending that any of our members with concerns about complying with the ban contact their local trading standards team to ensure they are operating within the law.' SGF is working with Police Scotland and trading standards nationally to help ensure its members comply with the ban - as well as to clampdown on any illicit trade after June 1. Those found to have broken the law could face a fine or a prison sentence of up to two years. The new law - The Environmental Protection (Single-Use Vapes) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 - is the first of two major legal changes around the use and sale of vaping products. Further regulations are expected to be introduced through the UK Government's Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is currently being debated in the House of Lords. This is expected to be introduced in Scotland through secondary legislation in the Scottish Parliament.
