Ban on Disposable Vapes Set to Take Effect Next Summer

October 24, 2024 TruthUSA

The previous government laid out legislation to ban the sale of single-use vapes, which Labour plans to enhance.

The UK government has announced that the sale of disposable vapes will be prohibited by next summer.

Parliament has approved legislation to ban the sale of single-use vapes starting from June 1, 2025, as confirmed by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on Wednesday.

Reusable vapes and refills will still be available, alongside regular cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Retailers will have until the deadline to sell any remaining stock they hold and prepare for the ban to take effect.

DEFRA stated that the UK government and the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland collaborated closely on the ban and will align the dates for implementation.

‘The Path to Net Zero’

Disposable vapes are challenging to recycle, with the majority being disposed of in regular household waste or littered outdoors.

Mary Creagh, the Circular Economy Minister, described disposable vapes as extremely wasteful and harmful to the environment in towns and cities.

Creagh emphasized the importance of banning single-use vapes to eliminate the throwaway culture in the country.

This decision marks the initial step towards a circular economy, aiming to reduce waste, promote sustainable resource usage, accelerate the journey to net-zero emissions, and create employment opportunities nationwide.

Last year, Materials Focus reported that almost 5 million single-use vapes were discarded or improperly disposed of each week in the UK, nearly quadrupling compared to the previous year.

DEFRA highlighted a significant increase in vape usage in England, with a growth of over 400 percent between 2012 and 2023, leading to 9.1 percent of the population purchasing and using vape products.

Health authorities expressed concerns that while vaping was intended as a smoking cessation aid, many young individuals have adopted vaping without having previously smoked traditional cigarettes.

A ‘Smoke-Free Future’

Health Minister Andrew Gwynne stated that banning disposable vapes will protect the environment and reduce their appeal to children, effectively preventing vulnerable young people from accessing these products.

The government plans to introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, representing a significant public health intervention that aims to prevent nicotine addiction among youths and pave the way for a smoke-free environment in the UK.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting promised to introduce a more ambitious smoking law than the previous government’s proposal, targeting a gradual increase in the legal smoking age and imposing restrictions on the sale and marketing of vaping products to minors.

The bill aims to create a smoke-free generation by prohibiting the sale of tobacco and vaping products to individuals born after Jan. 1, 2009.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer mentioned a potential ban on smoking in outdoor areas, leading to concerns about its impact on the hospitality industry.

Labour intends to reintroduce the Tobacco and Vapes bill to Parliament, aiming to address public health issues and reduce smoking rates in the country.

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