Council trading standards officers have highlighted imminent Government changes in the law banning the sale of single-use vapes.
From Sunday, 1 June 2025, it will be illegal for businesses to sell single-use (disposable) vapes under The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024.
This applies to online sales and shops, and applies to all single-use vapes, whether they contain nicotine or not. Businesses will still be able to sell or supply reusable vapes.
Disposable vapes waste valuable resources and are often discarded improperly, releasing harmful substances into the environment and posing fire hazards if they end up in waste processing facilities.
The trading standards team at Westmorland and Furness Council is urging businesses to stop buying new stock of single-use vapes and only buy vapes that meet the new regulations.
From 1 June any vapes sold by a business must:
- be rechargeable
- be refillable with e-liquid
- have a replaceable coil
The council’s trading standards team will be enforcing the new law around the sale of single-use vapes and any business found in possession of single-use vapes after 1 June may face fines of £200, and any single-use vapes may be seized. Those who continue to break the law could also face an unlimited fine, up to two years in prison, or both.
Before the ban comes into place on 1 June, businesses should check that the vapes they stock meet the legal requirements.
Visit GOV.UK to find out what you need to do to prepare for the single-use vapes ban.
Single-use vapes that cannot be sold after 1 June must be disposed of by a registered vape recycling service. For advice on recycling vapes, visit GOV.UK: Single-use vapes ban: what businesses need to do or Recycle your electricals website.
Vapes can be an effective tool in helping adults to quit smoking and those who smoke are encouraged to switch to reusable vapes and to access support services provided by Smokefree Westmorland and Furness.
However, as vapes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive, they are not recommended for use by children and young people.
A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council said: “Our trading standards officers are here to support Westmorland and Furness businesses, so we would encourage local retailers to get in touch and make use of the free specialist support that we can offer to help them meet the new laws on vape sales.”
Westmorland and Furness residents are reminded that if they see any single-use vapes on sale in shops after 1 June, or they believe a business is selling unregulated products, they can report this to Trading Standards by calling Citizen’s Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
For more information visit GOV.UK Single-use vapes ban: what businesses need to do.