Scotland has launched a tobacco and vape registration system, ePass, to manage the registration of tobacco and vape retailers. In its initial phase, it covers 10,000 tobacco and vape retailers, with plans to increase the number of registered businesses to 15,000 next month.
A winner of the Scottish Innovation Competition has launched a software platform to manage the registration process for tobacco and vape retailers across the country.
The national ePass system developed by Zudu, an Edinburgh-based software development company, will help trading standards departments verify the identity of salespeople and enforce relevant laws and regulations.
Zudu Enterprise has been awarded a contract for the Scottish Government’s CivTech Innovation and Technology Acceleration Programme. The program aims to establish a modern and digital priority approach to managing historic tobacco product licenses. The system will host tobacco and nicotine fogging registries and is initially rolling out to 10,000 retailers, with plans to increase the number of registered merchants to more than 15,000 next month
The ePass system allows end users to update records and comply with laws and regulations. Transaction standards can verify data with local municipal officials and search platforms to confirm registration.
James Buchan, CEO of Zudu, said,
- “Under the Scottish Government’s Tobacco and vape Framework, the plan is to become a smoke-free generation by 2034. Our robust systems help enforce these laws and regulations where it matters most – protecting future generations.”
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto welcomed the newly upgraded website.
- “This new system aims to improve data quality and ultimately strengthen laws and regulations on the sale of tobacco and vape brands to ensure that young people under the age of 18 do not have access to the goods they need in these age groups.”
The system will also provide retailers with information on any legal changes in the Tobacco and Vape Bill, which is now going through the UK Parliament.
