A vote has been passed in the Senedd to introduce new regulations which will prohibit the supply of single-use vapes in Wales. The ban is hoped to be a crucial step in tackling the litter and plastic pollution which blight our streets and environment.
The plans to ban vapes were announced earlier in 2024 and fall in line with UK and devolved government proposals for England, Scotland and Wales. This will enable the bans to be co-ordinated to improve compliance and help provide consistent enforcement across the UK, the Welsh Government said.
The regulations will come into force on June 1, 2025. No single-use vapes can be sold or given away for free after this date. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter
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Businesses should speak to their suppliers now about ordering alternatives and start to educate staff and inform customers. Businesses will need to organise, for their customers, the eventual safe disposal of their single-use vapes.
Following the vote in the Senedd, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs Huw Irranca-Davies, said: “This is a major step forward in tackling throwaway culture and the environmental impacts of single-use vapes. This is a key priority for the Welsh Government, and we continue to work with the other UK nations to address these challenges.
“Removing single-use vapes from the supply chain will stop them harming wildlife and the environment when they’re littered or sent to landfill. This ban will mean we generate less waste, clean up our streets, and protect nature and wildlife.”