Businesses are encouraged to take action to ensure they are prepared for the implementation of the ban on 1 June 2025
From 1 June 2025, it will be illegal for businesses to sell or supply, offer to sell or supply, or have in their possession for sale or supply all single-use or ‘disposable’ vapes.
This applies to
- sales online and in shops
- all vapes whether or not they contain nicotine
If a vape is reusable, you will still be able sell or supply it.
Who does the ban apply to?
The single-use vapes ban is for businesses in the UK vaping industry, including
- importers
- retail outlets
- vaping product manufacturers
- wholesalers
This includes any shop or business that sells single-use vapes, such as a
- convenience store
- market stall
- petrol station
- specialist vape shop
- supermarket
It also applies to any business or organisation that supplies single-use vapes in any other settings, for example, within a healthcare setting or stop smoking service.
Take action now
Businesses are encouraged to take action now to ensure they are prepared for the implementation of the ban.
This includes ensuring all remaining stocks of single-use vapes are sold, and only buying vapes that follow the new regulations.
If you have any single-use vapes in your possession after 1 June 2025, you will not be able to sell them to shoppers and must ensure they are disposed of safely.
Enforcement of the ban
In Northern Ireland, if you’re found guilty of supplying, offering to supply or having in your possession to supply single-use vapes, you may receive a fine of up to £5,000 on summary conviction in a Magistrates’ Court. On further conviction of this offence in a Crown Court, you may face a prison sentence of up to two years, a fine, or both.
If you fail to provide information that an enforcement body asks for, you may receive a fine on summary conviction of up to £5,000 in a Magistrates’ Court.
Find out more about the single-use vapes ban.
First published 1 May 2025
