The Council’s Trading Standards Team is highlighting the upcoming Government changes in the law banning the sale of single use vapes.
From 1 June 2025, it will be illegal for businesses to sell or supply, offer to sell or supply, or have in their possession for sale or supply all single-use or ‘disposable’ vapes. This applies to online sales and shops, and all vapes whether they contain nicotine or not.
Businesses will still be able to sell or supply reusable vapes.
The Trading Standards team is urging businesses to sell through existing stock before the changes come into force, to stop buying new stock of single use vapes and only buy vapes that meet the new regulations.
The team will continue to enforce the law around the sale of vapes and any business found in possession of vapes after this time may face fines of £200, and any single use vapes may be seized. Those who continue to break the law could also face an unlimited fine, up to 2 years in prison, or both.
Single use vapes that cannot be sold after 1 June must be disposed of by a registered vape recycling service. For advise on recycling vapes, visit GOV.UK: Single-use vapes ban: what businesses need to do or Recycle your electricals website.
This is an important new law, and we welcome it in Sheffield. It will mean that the millions of single use vapes thrown away into landfill or thrown away as litter every week will be off our streets. That can only be good for all of us in terms of improving our local environment.
We will do everything we can to support businesses who need advice or who have questions about this new law so that they operate within the new rules.
Councillor Joe Otten, Chair of Waste and Street Scene Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council
Disposable vapes are not only an environmental hazard due to the littering caused by people throwing disposable vapes away, but they also introduce harmful substances into the soil, rivers and streams, and cause harm to wildlife. They are also a fire risk if not disposed of correctly.
Vapes are an effective tool in helping adults to quit and those who smoke are encouraged to switch to reusable vapes and to access support services provided by Smokefree Sheffield. However, as vapes contain nicotine which is highly addictive, they are not recommended for use in children and young people there is increasing concern about the numbers of young people who are taking up vaping. Single use vapes are the most popular form of vape among young people.
Sheffield Trading Standards already enforce laws on illegal supplies of vapes across the city. Their work has led to a recent haul of 27,000 illegal vapes from a warehouse in the city.
In addition, over the last year the team has seized more than 8,632 illegal vapes from city retailers and have taken action against three businesses who were selling vapes to children, resulting in fines of £880 each for two businesses and £440 for one seller.
The Trading Standards Team works in partnership with teams across the council, including Public Health, Safeguarding and Licensing and external partners such as South Yorkshire Police and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Business Advisors can be contacted at Business Sheffield 0114 224 5000 or by email to businesssheffield@sheffield.gov.uk.
For more information visit GOV.UK Single-use vapes ban: what businesses need to do.