Shop visits ahead of new vape product display ban

The Vaping Products Bill 2024 will come into force on 1 September

Manx retailers have "not indicated" that they would struggle to comply with new laws banning vaping products to under-18s, a consumer watchdog has said.

Under the Vaping Products Bill 2024 the public display or advertising of the products in places where those under the age of 18 are admitted will be banned from 1 September.

Chairman of the Office for Fair Trading (OF) Tim Glover said retailers had been visited by the trading standards team who had offered advice about the new regulations.

During the visits businesses had been given an underage warning sign to display to informing customers of the new age restrictions.

'Fully compliant'

Mr Glover said advice given during the visits was on the types of cabinet, gantry system and cupboards that could be used, as well as cost effective measures to avoid unnecessary expenditure.

Each retailer was asked if they would be "fully compliant" by the deadline and no business had "indicated that they could not meet" it, he said.

In the last two weeks of August retailers would be visited again by members of the trading standards team to confirm they are prepared for the display ban, he confirmed.

In the first week of September businesses selling vaping products are set to be visited for a third time to ensure compliance to the new regulations, he added.