Latest news with #TobaccoandVapesBill
STV News
13 hours ago
- Business
- STV News
UK ban on single-use vapes comes into force
Single-use vapes will no longer be stocked or sold in Scotland under new legislation that has come into force. The UK-wide ban has been introduced to prevent the environmental damage disposable vapes cause and to cut their use among young people in line with government ambitions to create a tobacco-free generation by 2034. The crackdown on the devices makes it illegal for any retailer, ranging from corner shops to supermarkets, to sell them. Rogue traders who continue to sell them risk a £ 200 fine in the first instance, followed by an unlimited fine or jail time for repeat offending. An estimated 26 million disposable vapes were thrown away in Scotland in 2023. Of these, more than half were not recycled properly, and around 10% were littered. The batteries used in disposable vapes are difficult to recycle, leak harmful waste, and can cause fires in waste facilities. Acting Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin said: 'Scotland was the first nation in the UK to commit to taking action on single-use vapes. 'It's estimated that over half of disposable vapes are incorrectly disposed of each year in Scotland – creating a fire risk and littering our beautiful environment. They also contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. 'This change to the law fulfils a Programme for Government commitment and will help tackle the threat that single-use vapes pose to our environment as well as to our public health. 'We have worked closely across the four nations to ensure a consistent approach to a ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes and will continue to work with regulators regarding enforcement once in force.' STV News An estimated 26 million disposable vapes were thrown away in Scotland in 2023 STV News Moves to raise the age of sale of tobacco products and regulate the displays, flavours, and packaging of reusable vapes are being pursued separately through the four-nations Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Last year, it was estimated that almost five million single-use vapes were either littered or thrown away in general waste every week in the UK, the equivalent of eight being thrown away per second. There was an exponential increase in children's use of e-cigarettes in Scotland, driven by the popularity of disposable vapes, between 2018 and 2022. Data collected by Keep Scotland Beautiful highlighted that single-use vapes were the fastest-growing litter type in 2024/25. With half of people in Scotland saying sightings of the products have become more common in the past 12 months, we know that a ban will help reverse this trend. Source to Sea litter surveys carried out by Marine Conservation Society volunteers in streets, parks and beaches revealed an increase in prevalence of vapes from being recorded on 46% of surveys in Scotland in 2023 to almost all – 85% – of surveys carried out in 2024. Barry Fisher, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: 'We first became aware of the impact single-use vapes were having on our environment back in 2022 when members of the public and our volunteers were noticing them more often and asked what could be done. 'I'm proud of the effort we have made, alongside our partners, to see this product banned in Scotland – it shows what true collaboration can achieve. 'Our surveys and supporters have made it clear that this product was becoming more and more common, spoiling our 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. 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.' STV News Disposable vapes to be banned in Scotland STV News Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: 'We celebrate the ban of cheap recreational disposable e-cigarettes, which are the starter vaping product for most youngsters who vape, as a vital first step towards halting the alarming upsurge of children vaping in Scotland during the last few years. 'Although we warmly welcome these regulations coming into effect, government must take further, stronger actions to restrict the advertising and promotion of all e-cigarettes as well as banning vape flavours, colours, descriptors and branding on device designs and packaging to reduce the attractiveness of the products to children. 'The tobacco and nicotine industries must be halted in their attempts to attract children to use their addictive and health harming products, generating huge profits at a considerable cost to the health of our young people now and future generations.' Catherine Gemmell, Policy and Advocacy Manager at the Marine Conservation Society, said volunteers found vapes on 85% of their litter surveys in 2024. She added: 'Littered vapes can leak harmful chemicals and microplastics into the environment which can find their way into our seas and pose a real risk to marine life. 'This is a great step in removing single-use products from the market. We know bans and charges like this work, having seen a decrease in things like single-use plastic bags in our litter surveys. Like so many areas of our society, we must move away from other single-use products, including plastic cigarette filters, towards a circular economy – one in which refilling and reusing is the norm, rather than throwing away and polluting our environment.' STV News is now on WhatsApp Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
The National
18 hours ago
- Business
- The National
Single-use vape ban comes into force in Scotland
From June 1, it is now illegal to sell or buy disposable vapes in the country, with only vapes considered reusable being legal. The Scottish Government, as well as the Northern Ireland Executive, had delayed the decision to outlaw the product to align with a similar ban in England and Wales. Ministers say the UK-wide ban is needed to prevent the environmental damage caused by vapes, while addressing health concerns from inhaling nicotine. READ MORE: Labour have 'given up' on by-election amid SNP-Reform contest, says John Swinney The measure will form part of the Government's plans to move towards a tobacco-free generation by 2034. An estimated 26 million disposable vapes were thrown away in Scotland in 2023. Of these, more than half were not recycled properly, while around 10% were littered. The batteries used within disposable vapes are difficult to recycle, leak harmful waste, and can cause fires in waste facilities. Moves to raise the age of sale of tobacco products and regulate the displays, flavours and packaging of reusable vapes are also being taken forward separately through the UK-wide Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Gillian Martin, Scotland's acting Net Zero Secretary, said: 'Scotland was the first nation in the UK to commit to taking action on single-use vapes. (Image: Web) 'It's estimated that over half of disposable vapes are incorrectly disposed of each year in Scotland, creating a fire risk and littering our beautiful environment. They also contain nicotine which is highly addictive. 'This change to the law fulfils a Programme for Government commitment and will help tackle the threat that single-use vapes pose to our environment as well as to our public health. 'We have worked closely across the four nations to ensure a consistent approach to a ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes and will continue to work with regulators regarding enforcement once in force.'
Metro
a day ago
- Metro
Disposable vapes officially banned in the UK from today
Fancy a disposable Elfbar or Lost Mary? You're out of luck. As of today, disposable vapes are now banned from the shelves of all shops in the UK. The crackdown on the devices, also known as single-use vapes, makes it illegal for any retailer, ranging from corner shops to supermarkets, to sell them. The ban applies to both online and in-store sales across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and all disposable vapes, whether or not they contain nicotine. Retailers are still allowed to sell reusable vapes. The single-use vape ban follows the soaring use of them in schools and a flood of plastic rubbish from the discarding of the devices. Disposable vapes are non-refillable and unable to be recharged, and are typically thrown away with general waste in black bins or littered rather than recycled. Even when they are recycled, they need to be taken apart by hand, while their batteries are a fire risk to recycling facilities and can leak harmful chemicals into the environment. Rogue traders who continue to sell them risk a fine of £200 in the first instance, followed by an unlimited fine or jail time for repeat offending. The Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) found the number of vapers in Great Britain who mainly use single-use devices fell from 30% in 2024 to 24% in 2025. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said usage among young vapers remained too high, and the ban would 'put an end to their alarming rise in school playgrounds and the avalanche of rubbish flooding the nation's streets'. Circular economy minister Mary Creagh said: 'For too long, single-use vapes have blighted our streets as litter and hooked our children on nicotine. That ends today. The Government calls time on these nasty devices.' Ash deputy chief executive Caroline Cerny said: 'It's promising to see that many people switched away from disposable vapes to re-usable products well ahead of the ban. 'This is particularly marked among young people, who were more likely to use disposable products due to their attractiveness, affordability, and heavy marketing. 'If behaviour does not change then further regulations will be possible following the passage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.' Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman added: 'We strongly support robust enforcement activity, starting with the businesses that are already openly flouting the rules by selling illicit products and who will continue to sell disposable vapes once they're outlawed.' More Trending The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) said its members had moved quickly to bring new fully compliant products to market well ahead of the June 1 deadline, but warned of 'serious unintended consequences'. 'Vaping was invented to help adult smokers quit and disposable products became the most successful vape products to do so because they are simple to use and most closely replicate the sensation of smoking,' UKVIA director general John Dunne said. 'We are concerned that this ban will encourage former smokers who have already transitioned from cigarettes – which kill 220 people every day in the UK – to return to combustible tobacco or opt for unregulated vapes. 'We also have clear evidence, from countries including the USA and Australia, showing that black market, counterfeit and illicit vape sales spiked when vape bans and restrictions are introduced.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Lidl urgently pulls popular protein snack from shelves over 'health risks' MORE: Peak District visitors could face £1 entry fee to 'access incredible landscape' MORE: Royal Navy scrambled to monitor Russian ship loitering in UK waters
South Wales Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Disposable vapes ban to come into force in bid to improve health and cut litter
The crackdown on the devices, also known as single-use vapes, makes it illegal for any retailer – ranging from corner shops to supermarkets – to sell them. The ban applies to both online and in-store sales across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and all disposable vapes whether or not they contain nicotine. Retailers are still allowed to sell reusable vapes. It follows the soaring use of disposable vapes in schools and a flood of plastic rubbish from the discarding of the devices. Disposable vapes are non-refillable and unable to be recharged, and are typically thrown away with general waste in black bins or littered rather than recycled. Even when they are recycled, they need to be taken apart by hand, while their batteries are a fire risk to recycling facilities and can leak harmful chemicals into the environment. Rogue traders who continue to sell them risk a fine of £200 in the first instance, followed by an unlimited fine or jail time for repeat offending. Figures from the charity Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) suggests the number of vapers in Great Britain who mainly use single-use devices fell from 30% in 2024 to 24% in 2025, while the use of disposables by 18 to 24-year-old vapers fell from 52% in 2024 to 40% in 2025. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said usage among young vapers remained too high, and the ban would 'put an end to their alarming rise in school playgrounds and the avalanche of rubbish flooding the nation's streets'. Circular economy minister Mary Creagh said: 'For too long, single-use vapes have blighted our streets as litter and hooked our children on nicotine. That ends today. 'The Government calls time on these nasty devices.' Ash deputy chief executive Caroline Cerny said: 'It's promising to see that many people switched away from disposable vapes to re-usable products well ahead of the ban. This is particularly marked among young people, who were more likely to use disposable products due to their attractiveness, affordability, and heavy marketing. 'This new law is a step towards reducing vaping among children, while ensuring products are available to support people to quit smoking. It will be up to manufacturers and retailers to ensure customers are informed and able to reuse and recycle their products securing a real change in consumer behaviour and a reduction in environmental waste. 'If behaviour does not change then further regulations will be possible following the passage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.' Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said: 'We have been working with retailers, the Government and Trading Standards for months on providing detailed guidance that sets out how to spot non-compliant vapes after the ban comes into force, as well as advising retailers on what they need to do with any stock of disposables left over on June 1. 'We strongly support robust enforcement activity, starting with the businesses that are already openly flouting the rules by selling illicit product and who will continue to sell disposable vapes once they're outlawed. 'It is essential that Trading Standards teams are given the resources they need to get illegal vapes and other products off the streets, as these rogue businesses undermine the work of responsible retailers across the country.' The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) said its members had moved quickly to bring new fully compliant products to market well ahead of the June 1 deadline, but warned of 'serious unintended consequences' of bans as a regulatory measure. UKVIA director general John Dunne said: 'Vaping was invented to help adult smokers quit and disposable products became the most successful vape products to do so because they are simple to use and most closely replicate the sensation of smoking. 'We are concerned that this ban will encourage former smokers who have already transitioned from cigarettes – which kill 220 people every day in the UK – to return to combustible tobacco or opt for unregulated vapes. 'We also have clear evidence, from countries including the USA and Australia, showing that black market, counterfeit and illicit vape sales spiked when vape bans and restrictions are introduced.' The separate Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is currently working its way through Parliament, also includes powers to potentially restrict the packaging, marketing and flavours of e-cigarettes.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Warning that disposable vapes ban ‘will backfire' as threat of £200 fines looms in just hours
Retailers have been scrambling to sell of their remaining stock PUFFED UP Warning that disposable vapes ban 'will backfire' as threat of £200 fines looms in just hours EXPERTS have warned that the government's disposable vape ban will backfire. The threat of fines looms with just hours left before disposable vapes are banned across the UK. 4 Experts warned that the ban could lead to a surge in black market products Credit: Getty 4 Smokers relied on the products as an easy to use alternative to traditional cigarettes Credit: PA Coming into effect on Sunday June 1, the ban will make it illegal for any retailer to sell single use vapes online or in store. Only reusable vapes will be sold from June 1 with the government crackdown aimed at preventing youths from picking up the habit and protecting the environment. Industry leaders have today warned that the ban will backfire with a slew of unintended consequences expected. Experts shared concerns that the ban will result in the vape losing its original purpose as an aid to quit smoking. Concerns have been raised that after the ban smokers who moved away from cigarettes with the help of vapes will return to the deadly habit. Experts said that without disposable vapes smokers could return to tobacco or, even worse, unregulated vapes. Evidence from the USA and Australia indicates vape bans create a boom in black market, counterfeit vapes being sold. Disposable vapes have been extremely popular with smokers looking to kick the habit because they are as easy to use as a traditional cigarette. Experts said the ban was a "disproportionate response" to youth vaping and environmental concerns. Industry leaders said looking at other options like enforcing existing laws and education should have been considered. Kate Pike, the lead officer for tobacco and vaping at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, said it was a 'worry' that reusable vapes cost the same as disposables. She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'It's a real worry that people will continue to use them as single-use disposable and therefore it won't help limit the damage to the environment.' 4 Further restrictions are set to hit the vape industry Credit: Getty 4 Retailers have been warned that they could be slapped with massive fines if they continue to sell the products Credit: AFP Further restrictions on disposable vapes are currently working their way through parliament. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will see marketing, packaging and flavours of vapes also subject to restrictions when it is introduced. Rogue traders who continue to sell the disposable vapes will face fines of £200 under the new legislation. This can be followed with an unlimited fine or jail time if the trader persists in selling the products. The Sun reported yesterday that retailers were selling off their remaining stock at discounted prices ahead of the ban. Images showed baskets filled with the disposable vapes being sold off in bulk for cheap as retailers scrambled to empty their shelves. There are just hours left before the products will be illegal to sell in stores or online. Experts have warned that the disposable products will soon be replaced with near identical reusable vapes as firms scramble to get new legal models onto shelves.
