According to the survey, from 2022 to May 2024, not a single vape company in the UK has been punished for failing to comply with the Waste Electronic Equipment Act (WEEE) due to liability, so the UK Vape Industry Association (UKVIA) has called for stricter regulatory measures.
UK Environment Agency: no vape businesses penalized for waste device liability
On November 18, a report to the Environment Agency’s (EA) Freedom of Information Request Submission (FOI) revealed that from 2022 to May 2024, not a single vape business has been fined or prosecuted for liability for failing to carry out waste Electronic and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) work.
By law, vape retailers must provide customers with a way to return their used devices.
Civil Sanctions Response Options
In response, the UK vape Industry Association (UKVIA) asked the regulator to take stricter measures against companies not complying with this regulation.
The Environment Agency (EA) explained that WEEE laws and regulations do not have “civil sanction response options”, including fines, but if manufacturers are found guilty they face unlimited fines. EA also added that vape manufacturers are not obligated to explain that they are retailers, distributors, manufacturers, or other types of manufacturers when registering or reporting data.
The Office of Product Quality and Standards, which sets environmental regulations for vape retail outlets, said it “does not have a grasp” of the total number of professional and non-professional vape companies that have been fined or prosecuted for failing to meet their obligations. Due to the ever-changing scope of the industry, data is not collected but explained that the office has carried out a series of educational activities.
UKVIA said its Freedom of Information request, due to the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, was the result of a (Defra) consultation on “reform of accountability for waste electrical and electronic equipment manufacturers”. The results of the consultation are expected in the coming months.
UKVIA has warned that the UK’s single-use vape ban could have a significant impact on the waste management chain. The association is also concerned that the measure will lead to a surge in illegal goods, which will pose a greater risk to customers, especially young people. According to the Association of Convenience Stores, a ban would result in an additional £645 million a year in black market transactions.
