The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) is urging Scottish retailers to prepare for the new vape ban by beginning their preparations for selling through disposable vaping products before they are banned from sale on 1st April 2025.
In just six months’ time, the only vaping products that will be legal for sale in Scotland will be those that feature the following attributes:
- Must be refillable (a container that is refillable or that can be replaced, such as a pod system) and;
- Must be rechargeable (containing a battery that can be recharged and a replacement coil or coil that is contained in a cartridge or pod which is separately available after purchase and can be replaced in the product’s normal course of use)
Under the previous Westminster Government, proposals were put forward to ban disposable vapes on April 1st 2025, with details broadly in line with the rest of the UK, but the current Government have not yet confirmed an implementation schedule for the ban. ACS has written to officials, urging the Government to provide clarity on timescales for the introduction of the regulations.
ACS is currently developing more detailed guidance for retailers on the implementation of the ban on disposable vapes, which will be available in due course. In the meantime, retailers can refer to their existing guidance on selling legitimate vaping products and preventing underage sales.
The trade body is also reminding retailers of their responsibilities when it comes to vape recycling. All retailers who sell vaping products have a responsibility to provide a facility for customers to bring back used or unwanted vapes. At a minimum, retailers have to provide a recycling facility on a one-for-one basis, meaning that a retailer only has to accept a vape for recycling if the customer is purchasing a new one. Many retailers will opt to provide a bin or container in-store for anyone to return their vapes, which is also permitted.
