The government has launched a consultation on the proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill, appealing for evidence to help decide on the potential legislation.
Launched today, and running until 3 December 2025, the consultation, open to academics, industry bodies, local councils and other experts and stakeholders with relevant knowledge and experience, will be gathering evidence on:
- substances and ingredients used to create flavours in vapes and nicotine products
- levels of nicotine that should be permitted in nicotine-containing products
- size and shape of vapes, vape-like devices and tanks, and the role of technology in these devices
- proposal to introduce a new licensing scheme for selling tobacco, vaping and nicotine products
- proposal to introduce a new product registration scheme in the UK
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is currently being considered by Parliament, and if brought into law, will gradually end the sale of tobacco products in the UK; stop vapes and nicotine products from being deliberately promoted and advertised to appeal to children to stop the next generation from becoming addicted to nicotine through restrictions on product features, ingredients and flavourings and provide powers to introduce a licensing scheme for the retail sale of tobacco, vapes and nicotine products in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Licensing scheme
The prospect of a licensing scheme has proved divisive amongst the retail industry. The consultation covers what factors should be considered when granting a premises or personal licence; how licensing authorities should reach decisions about granting licences; the administration of such a scheme and fee structure and duration.
The consultation states that “we want to ensure that only responsible retailers who do not pose any undue public health or crime risk will be able to have a tobacco and vape licence and sell products to the public”.
Submissions to the consultation can be made here by 3 December 2025. There are also plans to launch a separate consultation on proposals for:
- smoke-free, vape-free and heated tobacco-free places
- rules on the display of products
- restrictions to elements of devices such as branding and colour
- the packaging of tobacco products
- the packaging of vape and nicotine products
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