It is illegal for businesses to sell or supply single-use vapes. It is also illegal to offer to sell or supply single-use vapes, or to stock single-use vapes that you plan to sell or supply. Single-use vapes are also known as disposable vapes.
The ban came into force on 1 June 2025 and applies to:
- sales online and in shops
- all vapes whether or not they contain nicotine
Regulation and enforcement: if you're caught selling single-use vapes
How the ban is enforced varies between the UK's 4 nations and is specific to where your business operates.
The council's Trading Standards leads on enforcing the ban within their area. You can report to us:
- suspect that someone is supplying single-use vapes
- have questions about following the ban's rules or how it is enforced
In the first instance, we will apply civil sanctions (non-criminal penalties). For example, a:
- stop notice
- compliance notice
- fine of £200
We can seize any single-use vapes we find. If you continue to stock, sell or supply single-use vapes (or offer to), you may be charged with:
- an unlimited fine
- a prison sentence of up to 2 years
You may also receive an additional cost recovery notice. This means you must pay the costs incurred by Trading Standards while investigating your offence, including investigative, administrative and legal costs.
Recycling vapes
Vapes are electrical items, whether they are single-use or reuseable. This means they are covered by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations.
If you sell vapes (are a 'distributor'), you must offer a 'take back' service. This means you must accept vapes and vape parts (such as used pods, coils or batteries) that customers return for recycling.
This includes any single-use vapes returned by customers after the ban began on 1 June 2025.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards may take action against you if you do not have a way to safely recycle vapes and vape parts.
Unsafe storage of vapes or improper disposal is a fire risk. Vapes should be disposed of in vape bins only and regularly collected for recycling.
Online resources
Useful online resources for vape retailers and producers on waste disposal, WEEE responsibilities, and regulatory compliance:
- Environment Agency guidance on how to dispose of business waste
- Defra and the OPSS guidance on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) for manufacturers, importers and distributors (including retailers)
- OPSS WEEE poster to advertise that you recycle vapes, and record keeping template for operating a recycling scheme
We're also reminding retailers of their legal duty to provide collection points for waste vapes to their customers. Full guidance for businesses is available on GOV.UK.