A leading convenience store body today (June 9) reiterated the detail of the disposable vapes ban now that the ban is in force across the UK.
From June 1st, disposable vapes have been banned for sale. This means that only devices that are both refillable and rechargeable are now legal to sell, with a tank size of 2ml and a maximum refill container size of 10ml.
As part of its support for retailers on the introduction of the ban, ACS has put together some answers to commonly asked questions:
Q: Are all vapes that advertise over 600 puffs illicit?
A: Before June 1st, for disposable vapes, the typical number of puffs for a 2ml device was around 600 which is a good rule of thumb to see if they’re legal for sale in the UK.
However, for refillable/rechargeable devices, while the tank size remains 2ml, the maximum size of refill containers is 10ml of vape liquid which can provide a significantly higher total usage. From June 1st, only rechargeable / refillable devices are legal, so the 600 puff limit is no longer relevant.
Q: Do I have to communicate to customers about the ban?
A: There is no legal requirement to communicate the changes to customers, but it is helpful to do so to avoid any potential confrontation. ACS has a poster available to download here and DEFRA have a range of tools available in a business pack here.
Q: How can I tell if a vape is legal from June 1st?
A: In time, the MHRA website which lists all of the vapes that are legal for sale in the UK is being updated to only show products that are compliant with the ban, but we have been informed that this may not happen on day one.
The best way to check if the vapes you have in stock are compliant with the ban and legal for sale in the UK is to follow the ACS Assured Advice on selling vapes here.
Q: Do I have to sell refills for the devices I sell?
A: Refills for any vape devices sold must be available on the market, but they do not need to be sold at the same place that the device itself is sold. It is however good general practice to be able to provide both the device and refills to customers.
Q: Can vape devices still be recycled after June 1st?
A: Yes, retailers are still required to provide vape recycling facilities after the disposables ban comes into force.
Compliant devices should be recycled and not thrown away, especially as these have even more electrical components than their disposable counterparts.
Q: What do I do with stock that I have left of disposable vapes?
A: The most important thing to do with any remaining stock is to ensure that it is removed from the shop floor and clearly labelled as not for sale where it is being stored.
Some vape suppliers and wholesalers are allowing retailers to return unsold disposable vapes, but otherwise they will have to be recycled. Speak to your vape supplier for more information on what facilities they’re offering, if any.
ACS resources on the disposable vapes ban and vape recycling are available here: https://www.acs.org.uk/advice/selling-vapes
