The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has called for more resources for Trading Standards team to help support them enforce the UK-wide ban on disposable vapes which came into force on 1 June.
Research commissioned by the ACS last year showed that Trading Standards teams would need £140m over the next five years to deal with illicit vapes alone, with £30m required this year - three times the amount that has been provided to enforcement officers. The ACS added that officers are typically only able to visit a premises as a result of intelligence and reports from consumers or other businesses.
Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said: “We have been working with retailers, the Government and Trading Standards for months on providing detailed guidance that sets out how to spot non-compliant vapes after the ban comes into force, as well as advising retailers on what they need to do with any stock of disposables left over.
“We strongly support robust enforcement activity, starting with the businesses that are already openly flouting the rules by selling illicit product and who will continue to sell disposable vapes once they’re outlawed. It is essential that Trading Standards teams are given the resources they need to get illegal vapes and other products off the streets, as these rogue businesses undermine the work of responsible retailers across the country.”
The disposable vape ban came into effect on 1 June, resulting in only vapes that are both refillable and rechargeable legal for sale from that date. There are concerns that the illicit trade will benefit from this ban when responsible retailers have stopped selling them.
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