UK Single-use Vapes Ban - Digital Toolkit for Businesses - DEFRA

From 1 June 2025, it will be illegal for businesses to sell or supply all single-use vapes. The ban includes all ‘disposable’ vapes which are not refillable and use a battery which cannot be recharged.  This applies to sales online and in shops, and all vapes regardless of whether they contain nicotine 

The ban will come into force on 1 June 2025, the same day across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.  

Single-use vapes harm our environment and wildlife, releasing substances like lead and mercury into our soil, rivers and streams. They are also extremely wasteful of the valuable resources contained in these products, such as lithium, cobalt and copper. The ban will also help curb the rise in youth vaping. Over half of children who use vapes report that ‘disposable’ models are their product of choice.

The UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, working with Welsh Government, Scottish Government and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) of Northern Ireland, are urging retailers to stop buying new stock of single-use vapes and sell all existing stock before 1 June 2025.  

If a vape is reusable, businesses will still be able sell or supply it.

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. 

How you can help

We encouraging local authorities, trade associations and other business organisations to help inform local, high street retailers about the ban on 1 June 2025, and the actions they should take to comply with the new rules.  We have produced informational materials (below) including:

•  an infographic leaflet which summarises the guidance for businesses who sell vapes. Please download and circulate with high street, online and other vape retailers.
• a poster for high street retailers to display in windows, to help inform customers about the ban. Please download, print and share with businesses as appropriate.
• a Defra blog to explain to the general public why the ban is coming into force, the environmental harm of single-use vapes, and what people who buy these products should do.

Please share this blog with public audiences seeking more information about the ban.

• Single-use vapes: why it’s time to ditch them for good – Environment
• For Welsh language resources, visit the following link:  Welsh Government Communications Services Digital Toolkit