Electronic Cigarettes
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes since its introduction.
Answered by Mary Creagh
On 1 June 2025 the ban on the supply of single-use vapes came into force in the UK. From this date onwards, all vapes sold in the UK must be rechargeable and refillable. The ban is enforced by Local Authority Trading Standards, and the Office for Product Safety and Standards delivers communications and interventions to businesses and consumers.
Research from Material Focus estimates that 2.2 million single-use vapes were bought per week in 2025, a reduction of 69% from 7.3 million per week in 2024. The number of vapes and pods that were littered or thrown away each week has dropped from around 8.2 million in 2024 to 6.3 million in 2025.
Defra has not carried out a specific assessment of the prevalence of products designed to circumvent the definition of single-use vapes. Defra will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the ban and review enforcement and civil sanctions within 3 years.
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