The Scottish government has on Friday published regulations and a short two-week consultation on plans to ban disposable vapes by April 2025.
The government statement indicated that the ban will come into force across the UK on 1 April 2025.
“While separate legislation on banning the sale and supply of single use vapes will need to be introduced by each nation, the governments have worked together to agree on a date for when the ban will come into force, to provide certainty for businesses and consumers,” the statement said.
The move takes forward the recommendation to ban single use vapes from a consultation on ‘Creating a Smokefree Generation and Tackling Youth Vaping’, which ran across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland last year.
The draft legislation, which is open for consultation until 8 March, is being taken forward in Scotland using powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
“Legislating to ban the sale and supply of single-use vapes fulfils a Programme for Government commitment to reduce vaping among non-smokers and young people and take action to tackle their environmental impact,” circular economy minister Lorna Slater said.
“The public consultation demonstrated that there is strong support for tougher action on vaping. From causing fires in waste facilities to more than 26 million disposable vapes being consumed and thrown away in Scotland in the past year, single-use vapes are a threat to our environment as well as to our public health.
“These proposed changes to the law demonstrate our absolute commitment to further improve the wellbeing of communities and protecting our beautiful natural environment.”
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has called on the Scottish government to consider the impact of its proposed disposable vaping ban on the illicit market.
New consumer polling, commissioned by ACS, suggests that the ban will result in a huge uplift in the illicit vaping market, with 24 per cent of existing adult disposable vape users in the UK seeking to source products from the illicit market.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “The Scottish Government should not rush to implement the disposable vapes ban without proper consultation with industry and a clear understanding of the impact the illicit vaping market that already accounts for one third of the overall UK vaping market. The lack of a published impact assessment reveals the scant consideration of how vapers will respond to this change in the law, and how it will swell the already huge market in illicit vapes.
“We need a clear plan in place for communicating this policy change to consumers without undermining smoke free targets, as our research also suggests that 8% of disposable vape users will return to tobacco products when the ban is introduced.”
Retailers that sell single use vapes would be subject to conviction or a level five fine.
The UK government is expected to publish details of its own proposals to ban disposable vapes in the coming days.
Brian McLister
