Local businesses alerted to upcoming ban on single-use vapes

Image of someone using a vape

Local businesses selling vapes are being urged to be aware of a UK-wide ban on single-use or ‘disposable’ vapes, which comes into effect on 1 June 2025. Selling, offering to sell, or possessing these for sale will be illegal, both online and in-store, regardless of nicotine content. Reusable vapes remain permitted.

Understanding the difference:

  • single-use vapes are not designed to be reused
  • reusable vapes must be both rechargeable (with replaceable coils) and refillable (using separately sold e-liquid or pods)

This change in the law aims to tackle the significant environmental impact and safety concerns linked to disposable vapes; these items are often thrown away incorrectly, creating litter that harms local communities and wildlife and pollutes the local environment. When disposed of in general waste, they often end up in landfill or incineration, wasting resources and posing a fire risk.

This ban affects all vape industry businesses: importers, retailers (such as convenience stores, markets, petrol stations, vape shops and supermarkets), manufacturers and wholesalers, including those in healthcare or stop smoking services.

Immediate actions for businesses:

  • stop ordering single-use vapes
  • sell existing stock before 1 June 2025
  • stock compliant reusable vapes
  • after the ban is in place, any remaining single-use vapes must be separated from sale, clearly labelled as unsellable and sent for recycling through appropriate services

Trading Standards will be responsible for enforcement. Penalties may include £200 fixed fines, seizure of stock and stop/compliance notices. Continued breaches could lead to unlimited fines, up to two years in prison and recovery of enforcement costs.

Councillor Brian Bishop, Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing said:

At Bexley we are committed to ensuring a smooth transition to these new regulations and protecting our local environment and community. We urge all local businesses selling vapes to act now to ensure they are compliant by the 1 June 2025 deadline."

Email your local Trading Standards for general enquiries at ts.duty@bexley.gov.uk.