With just three months left in the complete ban on sale of disposable vapes, the Association of Convenience Stores, Chartered Trading Standards Institute and the Local Government Association are calling on retailers who sell vape products to prepare, be aware and ensure that they comply with the ban.
The ban on disposable vaping products is coming into force on June 1.
The ban will affect all products that are intended for one use, typically providing around 600-650 puffs in a single device. The only products that will be legal for sale from June 1 must be both rechargeable and refillable, with a maximum tank size of 10ml.
ACS has produced comprehensive guidance for retailers, backed by Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards, which outlines the steps that retailers need to take to comply with the ban, as well as their responsibilities when it comes to the rest of the vaping category, including on age related sales, recycling, and advertising.
In the guide, ACS advises retailers to sell through any existing stock of single use vapes before June 1 to avoid possible commercial losses and enforcement action.
Any retailers that have stock left over from June 1 must remove it from the shop floor and store it away from customers, clearly labelled as not for sale.
Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said, “The introduction of the disposable vape ban is one of the biggest regulatory changes for retailers in recent memory, with businesses needing to think carefully about how they manage their range of vaping products in the coming months to ensure that they’re ready for June 1.
"We urge all retailers to utilise our guide and get in touch if there are products that they’re not sure about.”
Kate Pike, Lead Officer for Vaping and Tobacco at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), said, "We welcome the introduction of the Single Use Vape ban as a positive step toward reducing environmental harm and addressing the growing appeal of vaping among young people.
"We encourage businesses to take proactive steps now to prepare for the 1 of June. We expect full compliance from that date and look forward to working together with retailers to ensure a smooth transition.
"Our priority is supporting responsible businesses, but we will take necessary action against non-compliance where required."
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said, “The ban on disposable vapes is an important step in reducing waste and protecting young people. With over five million thrown away each week, they have become a major challenge for councils to manage.
“With the ban coming into force on June 1, we encourage retailers to prepare now to ensure a smooth transition. Councils and Trading Standards teams will work with businesses to support compliance, but retailers must take responsibility for reviewing their stock and only selling legal products after the deadline.”
Wholesalers have begun communicating the dates from which they will stop selling disposable vaping products to retailers, with major wholesalers committed to compliance for all of their customers.
Federation of Wholesale Distributors chief executive James Bielby said, “Wholesalers are working with their retail customers to help sell through disposable vapes ahead of the ban coming into force on June 1.
"Retailers won’t be able to purchase non-compliant stock from wholesalers in good time ahead of the ban, to ensure they won’t be left with products they can’t sell in June. ACS’s guidance is invaluable for any retailers concerned about what they need to do in order to be compliant.”
ACS’ Assured Advice on Selling Vapes Responsibly is available here.
ACS has also produced a poster for retailers to display in store, communicating the ban to customers, which is available here.
