All vapes sold in the UK will be required to carry a digital duty stamp, including a QR code, under new plans designed to curb the spread of illicit devices, the government has announced.
By scanning a QR code, consumers and enforcement officers would be able to quickly confirm whether a vape is genuine, said the government.
Vaping manufacturers in the UK will be able to register for the scheme from next April, before it becomes compulsory in October 2026.
Retailers will have a six-month grace period to sell any unstamped stock.
As part of plans to “protect Britain’s high streets”, the chancellor is expected to crack down on illicit vapes in Wednesday’s Budget and announce “sweeping new powers” for the Border Force and HMRC.
Rogue traders selling illegal vapes could face £10,000 fines and potential prison sentences.
The government said the new measures would “disrupt criminal networks behind black market vapes, protecting the public from dangerous, unregulated products and leaving fraudsters fewer places to hide”.
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) welcomed the targeted action to disrupt rogue traders undermining responsible retailers across the country.
“The activity of rogue traders currently vastly outpaces the level of enforcement, so criminals are willing to take the risk,” said ACS chief executive James Lowman.
“New powers and penalties will only be effective if Trading Standards officers have the additional resources they need to enforce locally.”
The Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA) “applauded” the effort and said it would continue working with HMRC to ensure the industry is ready for the new vape duty next year.
Chief executive of the IBVTA, Gillian Golden, said: “Illegal products and illicit traders have been a scourge on our high streets in recent years. This unfair competition for the legitimate vape trade has also caused reputational damage to the UK’s most popular and effective aid to quitting smoking.”
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill currently going through parliament will introduce a licensing scheme for vape, tobacco and nicotine sales.
Golden added: “In tandem with the new vape duty, the licensing of vape retailers as proposed in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill could have benefits for the sector with the right structure and enforcement. However, it will take time and careful consideration to design a licensing scheme can achieve those aims.”
Dan Marchant, director of Vape Club and founding member of the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), said the government now has an opportunity to “back up its words” with proper funding for Trading Standards and local authorities, giving them the tools to ”shut down rogue traders for good”.
It comes after the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) called for urgent government funding in Wednesday’s Budget to tackle serious and organised crime impacting Britain’s high streets and legitimate businesses.
“We absolutely agree that more needs to be done to crack down on rogue vape shops, and we welcome the government’s latest focus on this issue,” said Marchant.
“The irresponsible sale of illegal and non-compliant products has done enormous damage to the reputation of an industry that, in its legitimate form, exists to help adult smokers move away from cigarettes.”
Responding to the series of new measures set to be announced on Wednesday, Eve Peters, director of government affairs for Elfbar UK, said: “We fully back the forthcoming excise tax. Together with licensing, the tax should reduce the thriving illicit market by bringing it under the remit of HMRC.
“Our support is contingent on ensuring the continued affordability and accessibility of vapes to adult smokers seeking to quit cigarettes without inadvertently directing them to unregulated products or back to tobacco.”
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