From 1 June 2025, it will be illegal for businesses in the United Kingdom to sell or supply all single-use or "disposable" vapes. Only reusable vapes are allowed for sale.
The restrictions of the ban are consistent across all 4 nations - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
This includes both online and in-store sales, and the ban will apply to all vapes whether or not they contain nicotine.
Any businesses which fail to comply with the ban could face a stop notice or a fine of £200 in the first instance, with all products seized by Trading Standards. If any further infractions occur, they could be hit with an unlimited fine or be prosecuted.
UK government has urged businesses to take action for ensuring all remaining stocks of single-use vapes are sold, and only buying vapes that follow the new regulations.
An analysis by Material Focus has revealed that approximately 8.2 million vapes are discarded or littered every week in the UK, equivalent to 13 every second. However, recycling single-use vapes is a challenging task, as waste industry workers must dismantle them by hand, a process that is both slow and costly. Additionally, the contents of these vapes pose a fire risk to recycling facilities and can leak harmful chemicals into the environment.
"This isn’t just an environmental crisis – it’s a public health one too. Single-use vapes, often sweet in flavour, are the product of choice for many young people, drawing a new generation into nicotine addiction. The ban will complement the world-leading Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will tackle youth vaping and safeguard our children’s health. I urge retailers to plan accordingly, as we work together to create a cleaner, greener, and healthier Britain for future generations," - said UK Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Ashley Dalton.
While vaping is less harmful than smoking and can be a useful tool to help adult smokers quit, youth vaping has skyrocketed in recent years, with a quarter of 11 to 15 year olds having tried it.
The long-term impact of vaping on the lungs isn’t yet known, so research into its effect on young people, is really important.
"It is already known that vaping can cause inflammation in the airways, and people with asthma have told us that vapes can trigger their condition. Vaping could put developing lungs at risk, while exposure to nicotine - also contained in vapes - can damage developing brains. This is why young people should be stopped from taking up vaping in the first place. The upcoming legislation, restricting vape flavours and packaging that appeal directly to young people, is an important step in tackling youth vaping along with a ban on cheap disposable vapes," - said Sarah Sleet, Chief Executive at Asthma + Lung UK.
Groundbreaking research will investigate the long-term health effects of vaping on children, supporting major plans to tackle youth vaping and create a smoke-free generation.
The £62 million research project into adolescent health, funded by UK Research and Innovation, will track 100,000 young people aged 8 to 18 years over a decade, collecting data on behaviour, biology and health records to understand what affects young people’s health and wellbeing, including the impact of vaping.
UK set to host 2035 Women’s World Cup as FIFA confirms sole bid. The joint bid from England, Scotland, Wales & NI stands uncontested, marking a major milestone for women’s football. Final approval pending, but preparations for a historic event are underway.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is traveling to Kosovo and Serbia to strengthen cooperation on security, addressing irregular migration, and combating serious organized crime.
Airbus UK wins a £150 million-contract to engineer landing platform that will safely deliver the first European rover on Mars. First British-built rover will explore the red planet in 2030 for signs of present and past life on Mars.
Britain's proposed assisted dying law for terminally ill individuals may be delayed until 2029, following amendments to the legislation that extend the timeline for implementation and add new safeguards, with the bill still needing approval from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump held a brief call on Sunday to discuss progress on a new economic deal between the two countries, the prime minister's spokesperson said.
China has hit back at Washington with a new wave of tariffs and export restrictions, escalating trade tensions as it targets key U.S. imports and rare-earth materials critical to advanced industries.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) adopted a human rights resolution on Belarus, calling for freezing and confiscating the assets and properties owned by President Aleksandr Lukashenko and his inner circle abroad, in order to reallocate them to support victims of repression.
Russia’s special envoy for foreign investment and economic cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, announced on Thursday that Moscow and Washington made “three steps forward” over the past two days in a series of high-level discussions aimed at mending ties.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the EU is ready to respond with countermeasures if talks with Washington fail, following new US tariffs imposed by President Trump.
Aid groups in Myanmar’s worst-hit areas urgently need shelter, food, and water after a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake killed over 2,700 people. Rescue efforts face challenges due to ongoing civil war, damaged infrastructure, and restricted aid access, with the toll expected to rise.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was banned from running for public office for five years after being convicted of embezzlement, ruling her out of the 2027 presidential race. She received a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, and a €100,000 fine. Le Pen plans to appeal.
The Armenian armed forces attempted three reconnaissance drone flights over Azerbaijan Army positions near Gerenzur, but all were successfully intercepted. Meanwhile, Armenian units repeatedly fired on Azerbaijani positions from multiple regions, escalating tensions in the area.
Apple marked its 49th anniversary by reaching a market capitalization of $3.3 trillion. Despite recent tech stock volatility, Apple's shares surged 28% in 2024.
Rybelsus, an oral form of the GLP-1 drug semaglutide, has been discovered to provide similar cardiovascular benefits as the injectable forms of the drug.
The 19th MedExpo Kyrgyzstan 2025 has opened in Bishkek, featuring over 50 companies from 11 countries. The event serves as a key platform for medical advancements, presenting cutting-edge solutions in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and medical technology. The exhibition runs until April 3.
A global survey by AXA and IPSOS reveals that workplace stress, anxiety, and burnout are worsening, with financial instability, job insecurity, and constant exposure to negative news among the key factors affecting mental well-being
A Chinese medical team has successfully transplanted a gene-edited pig liver into a brain-dead human, marking a breakthrough in xenotransplantation. The organ functioned normally, showing no signs of acute rejection or viral transmission during a 10-day observation period.
China has hit back at Washington with a new wave of tariffs and export restrictions, escalating trade tensions as it targets key U.S. imports and rare-earth materials critical to advanced industries.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) adopted a human rights resolution on Belarus, calling for freezing and confiscating the assets and properties owned by President Aleksandr Lukashenko and his inner circle abroad, in order to reallocate them to support victims of repression.
Russia’s special envoy for foreign investment and economic cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, announced on Thursday that Moscow and Washington made “three steps forward” over the past two days in a series of high-level discussions aimed at mending ties.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the EU is ready to respond with countermeasures if talks with Washington fail, following new US tariffs imposed by President Trump.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment