ACS issues reminder for retailers with under three months until disposable vape ban

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), Chartered Trading Standards Institute and the Local Government Association are calling on retailers to ensure they will comply with the introduction of a ban on disposable vaping products coming into force on 1 June.

As previously reported, the ban will affect all products intended for one use, typically providing around 600-650 puffs in a single device. The only products that will be legal for sale after the ban must be both rechargeable and refillable, with a maximum tank size of 10ml.

The ACS has previously produced comprehensive guidance for retailers, backed by Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards, which outlines the steps that retailers need to take to comply with the ban, as well as their responsibilities when it comes to the rest of the vaping category, including on age related sales, recycling, and advertising.

In the guide, ACS advises retailers to sell through any existing stock of single use vapes before the ban to avoid possible commercial losses and enforcement action. Any retailers with stock left over from 1 June must remove it from the shop floor and store it away from customers, clearly labelled as not for sale.

ACS chief executive, James Lowman, said: “The introduction of the disposable vape ban is one of the biggest regulatory changes for retailers in recent memory, with businesses needing to think carefully about how they manage their range of vaping products in the coming months to ensure that they’re ready for 1 June. We urge all retailers to utilise our guide and get in touch if there are products that they’re not sure about.”

The ACS’ Assured Advice on Selling Vapes Responsibly is available here.