The government has confirmed that England and Wales will ban the sale of single-use disposable vapes starting from June 2025. The move, initially announced in January by the previous government but not enacted before the general election, aims to safeguard children’s health and mitigate environmental harm. The government collaborated closely with the devolved nations to align the implementation dates of the ban, with Wales already confirming its intention to follow suit.
Vaping Industry Warns of Potential Rise in Illegal Sales
Vaping industry leaders have cautioned that the ban could lead to an increase in illegal sales of disposable vapes. John Dunne, director general of the UK Vaping Industry Association, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the ban would “fuel” illicit sales, as authorities already struggle to keep up with the existing black market in vaping products. Dunne suggested that the government should instead introduce a licensing scheme for retailers and distributors, which would include mandatory age verification processes.
Disposable Vapes Contribute to Youth Nicotine Addiction and Environmental Waste
Disposable vapes, often sold in smaller, more colorful packaging than refillable ones, have been identified as a key driver behind the alarming rise in youth vaping. Public health minister Andrew Gwynne emphasized that banning disposables would reduce their appeal to children and keep them out of the hands of vulnerable young people. Paediatric respiratory consultant Dr. Claire Hogg described the ban as “brilliant news,” citing the epidemic of nicotine addiction among children who have been misled by false marketing.
Single-use vapes also pose significant environmental challenges. They are difficult to recycle and often end up in landfills, where their batteries can leak harmful waste like battery acid, lithium, and mercury into the environment. Defra estimates that almost five million single-use vapes were either littered or thrown into general waste each week last year, a nearly four-fold increase from the previous year. In 2022, discarded vapes contained a total of more than 40 tonnes of lithium, enough to power 5,000 electric vehicles.
Ban to Cover All Single-Use Vapes, Regardless of Origin
The government plans to introduce legislation to ban the sale of single-use vapes from June 1, 2025, allowing retailers time to sell their remaining stock. The ban will cover all single-use vapes, regardless of where they are imported from. Online shops and major retailing platforms will be expected to use “online takedown procedures” to stop illicit suppliers when the ban comes into force.
The measure is separate from the government’s plans to end smoking by banning the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after January 2009. Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced that a bill to enact that ban would be introduced to parliament before Christmas.
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Disposable vapes to be banned from June
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