Key points:
1. The UK government has introduced the Tobacco and vapeBill, which plans to gradually achieve the goal of going smoke-free.
2. Inject £10 million into local Trading Standards authorities over the next year to increase the number of enforcement officers and combat illegal tobacco and vapes.
3. The new law will strengthen the protection of minors and crack down on illegal sales.
UK government allocates £10 million
On March 23, the British government issued a press release saying that the British government is promoting the Tobacco and Vaping Bill, which has introduced more stringent protection measures. To support enforcement efforts in local communities. The government will provide new £10 million funding for Trading Standards, which will increase the number of enforcement trainees in the coming year to prevent harmful tobacco and vape products from reaching community shops and stopping underage purchases.
Law enforcement officers will work closely with local police to crack down on organized crime groups operating illegal vapes through the Internet. Trading Standards played a key role in the operation, carrying out targeted seizures and deploying sniffer dogs to find illegal vapes stashed in shops.
Cracking down on illicit tobacco and vapes
The current measures build on strong measures to tackle illegal tobacco and vapes, including the £100m Illicit Tobacco Strategy launched by HMRC and the Border Force to curb illegal tobacco. The new vape tax, which will come into effect in 2026, will also introduce new civil and criminal powers, increase product seizure powers, and supplement more than 200 compliance officers.
In England and Wales, the bill will also introduce a new £200 on-the-spot fine to crack down on breaches of the age limit for sales, while giving retailers selling tobacco. Vapes and nicotine products in England. Wales and Northern Ireland licensing powers.
Lord Michael Bichard, chairman of the UK’s National Trading Standards agency, said
- “While Trading Standards seized more than one million illegal vapes. 19 million fake cigarettes and 5,103kg of illegal hand-rolled tobacco last year, more action and resources are needed by law enforcement agencies to break the supply chain and crack down on perpetrators.” The Tobacco and vape Bill is an important step in the right direction, providing support to the Trading Standards team who are in desperate need of resources and are working with other law enforcement partners to help the government achieve its goal of a smoke-free generation.”
