Tighter and tougher protections to protect children and
communities from illicit tobacco and vapes have been unveiled
today (Sunday 22 March) as the landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill
moves closer to creating a smokefree UK.
A new £10 million boost for Trading Standards will bolster
operations in local communities for the next year, to fund an
expected 80 more apprentice enforcement officers to stop harmful
tobacco and vape products finding their way into neighbourhood
shops and stopping underage sales.
Officers work closely with local police to take down organised
crime groups that operate within networks to supply illegal
vapes. Trading Standards plays a key role, operating targeted
seizures and sending sniffer dogs to hunt down illicit vapes
hidden in shops.
Today's package builds on robust measures in place to tackle
illicit tobacco and vapes, including HMRC and Border Force's £100
million Illicit Tobacco Strategy to crack down on illegal
tobacco. Alongside this, the new vaping duty (which will come
into force in 2026) will introduce new civil and criminal powers,
giving them the ability to seize products and recruit over 200
additional compliance staff.
This new funding sits alongside the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which
will create the world's first smoke-free generation, gradually
ending the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1
January 2009 and toughening laws to protect children from
addiction.
The Bill will also introduce new £200 on the spot fines in
England and Wales for breaches of age of sale restrictions,
alongside powers to introduce a licensing scheme for retailers to
sell tobacco, vape and nicotine products in England, Wales and
Northern Ireland.
This action delivers on the government's Plan for Change to
create an NHS fit for the future by focusing on the crucial role
prevention can take in cutting waiting lists, while also making
our streets safer by tackling organised crime.
Minister for Public Health and Prevention said:
Buying illicit tobacco and vapes may save a few pennies in your
pocket, but they can be incredibly dangerous and are often linked
to criminal activity.
It's vital the Tobacco and Vapes Bill moves forward so we can
tackle this illicit trade and free our children from a life
imprisoned by addiction. By phasing out tobacco, introducing new
restrictions on vapes and putting more boots on our streets,
we're taking the concrete action needed to deliver our Plan for
Change and bring us that one step closer to a healthier,
smoke-free future.”
John Herriman, Chief Executive at the Chartered Trading Standards
Institute (CTSI), said:
CTSI is very welcoming of the announcement of substantial funding
for Trading Standards services across England. This much-needed
investment will strengthen our ability to support businesses in
complying with current and future tobacco and vaping regulations
and will also ensure we are well placed to support the protection
of public health. It also reinforces our commitment to taking
firm action against anyone who seeks to harm their local
communities by choosing to operate outside the law. With these
additional resources, we can make a real difference in both
keeping consumers safe, and ensuring a fair and responsible
marketplace.
Lord , Chair, National Trading
Standards, said:
Illicit tobacco and vape products are prevalent in our
communities, trapping people – including children and young
people – in a dangerous cycle of addiction that could endure for
another generation.
The scourge of illicit nicotine products are largely powered by
organised crime, and the products represent an important
money-spinner that help fund organised crime groups' other
illegal schemes, such as human trafficking and modern
slavery.
While Trading Standards seized more than a million illegal vapes,
19 million counterfeit cigarettes and 5,103kg of illicit hand
rolling tobacco last year, further action and resources are
needed by enforcement bodies to disrupt supply and clamp down on
the perpetrators. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is an important step
in the right direction, providing more resources to a stretched
Trading Standards workforce who, alongside other enforcement
partners, are working hard to help the government meet its aims
for a smoke-free generation.