Plea for public help ahead of disposable vape ban

Trading Standards in Nottinghamshire has been working with retailers ahead of the disposable vape ban

Trading Standards bosses are urging people to report retailers that flout the incoming disposable vape ban.

It will be illegal for businesses to sell or supply single-use vapes from 1 June in the UK as part of efforts to reduce environmental damage and protect children and young people.

Nottinghamshire County Council's Trading Standards teams are working with retailers ahead of the ban.

Team manager Fiona Needham said she hopes concerned members of the public or businesses will report those breaking the law.

The ban will make it illegal for businesses to offer to sell or supply disposable vapes and have them in their possession for sale or supply online and in shops.

It will apply to all disposable vapes whether they contain nicotine or not.

Retailers will have to ensure any reusable vapes comply with three elements - having a rechargeable battery, being refillable, and if the vape has a coil it has to be replaceable by the average consumer.

Fiona Needham says Trading Standards' work will be "intelligence-led"

Ms Needham said: "We're wanting businesses to already be geared up for it so speak to your suppliers.

"Make sure that they're only buying vapes that are reusable rather than disposable now so there won't be a problem when the ban comes in."

She added Trading Standards expects businesses to start stocking reusable vapes now and to get rid of disposable products by selling them or taking them off the shelves.

Retailers will be advised on what to do with remaining stock once the ban comes in, Ms Needham added.

The ban concerns the selling or supply of the products, but consumers will still be allowed to use them.

Ms Needham said, like with other banned products in England, there was concern disposable products might be "sold under the counter".

Enforcing the ban

"When the ban comes in, if businesses are concerned about other businesses continuing to sell disposable vapes or consumers are then they will be able to report those instances to the Citizens Advice consumer services [online or via phone]," she added.

Trading Standards officers will be given powers to seize the products and give out sanctions, which can include a formal stop notice or compliance notice - requiring a business to take action or stop doing something - and a fine of £200.

"In some circumstances we may go beyond that and we may take them through the civil courts in terms of a prosecution where they may receive a fine or receive a prison sentence of up to two years, or both," Ms Needham said.

Consumers will be able to recycle disposable vapes in stores with a recycling service or they will be able to take them to any Nottinghamshire County Council recycling centre.

Nottingham City Council has a recycling centre for household waste in Redfield Road which has a skip for electrical items.

The authority also has recycling points for electrical items around the city.