UK disposable vape ban enforcement :Only £ 10 million budget

Long term discussion on the ban on disposable vapes in the UK.

In order to enforce the ban on disposable electronic cigarettes in the UK, only 80 probationary officials are employed and the budget is insufficient, with only 6 full-time MHRA employees supervising the supply chain of electronic cigarette products, resulting in a lack of enforcement resources. The inadequate regulation under the ban has resulted in a loss of £ 645 million for small businesses, weakening the contribution of e-cigarettes in tobacco control and health.

Core highlights:

1. Lack of enforcement resources for the ban on disposable electronic cigarettes in the UK: The UK will implement a ban on disposable electronic cigarettes on June 1, 2025, but due to severe shortages in government manpower and financial investment, several lawmakers and public health advocates have warned that this could trigger a “new era of organized crime”.
2. Serious lack of law enforcement capability: only 80 probationary trade standards officers were recruited; The government only allocated £ 10 million for law enforcement, accounting for less than one-third of the required funding (£ 30.7 million); Only 6 full-time MHRA employees are responsible for supervising imported products.
3. Criticism and concerns from MPs: Conservative MP Jack Rankin (member of the responsible vaping cross party group) stated that the government lacks resources and plans, and that “black market operators will quickly fill the gap, ushering in a new era of crime”; Worries about small businesses losing foot traffic due to advertising bans are driving consumers to turn to the black market.
4. Advocacy group voice: Mark Oates, founder of the “We Vape” organization, criticized the government’s “serious shortage” of law enforcement personnel and “pitiful” funding, emphasizing that unregulated black markets will undermine the positive role of electronic cigarettes in tobacco control, and calling on the government to strengthen law enforcement investment, “otherwise law enforcement agencies will be swallowed up by the black market”.

In the earlier months ago. Many discussion with vape store owner\vape wholesaler\vape distributor for the disposable vape ban enforcement. Many of them expressed that this ban is difficult to enforce.

According to a report by Dailymail on April 13th, lawmakers and activists have warned that there is a severe shortage of new law enforcement personnel hired by the UK government to enforce the ban on disposable vape, which could lead to the arrival of a ‘new era of crime’.

Only 80 trainee trade standards officers have been hired, while the budget for combating the black market economy valued at billions of pounds is only £ 10 million.

• Analysts point out that these funds are less than one-third of what analysts say is needed to implement the new law in England for only one year.
• The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has allocated £ 58 million for “climate resilience” and “net zero research”, but has not specified how much funding will be invested in the upcoming ban on disposable vapes, which will take effect on June 1st.
• According to the results of the Request for Information Disclosure (FOI), the Department of Health and Social Security (DHSC) led by UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has not yet allocated funds for public awareness campaigns, only £ 30000 out of £ 10 million has been
• used for training trade standard apprentices, equivalent to £ 375 per person.

In addition, only six full-time employees from the Medicines and Medical Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) are responsible for overseeing the supply chain of products entering the UK market.

• According to statistical data, law enforcement agencies are currently overwhelmed by soaring smuggling activities, but neither the Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) nor the Environment Agency in the UK have indicated that they will assist in enforcing the law.
• The latest data from the National Bureau of Trade Standards in November shows that authorities have seized 1.2 million illegal electronic cigarettes between 2023-2024, a year-on-year increase of 59%. Over the past five years, nearly 2.8 million illegal devices worth £ 21 million have been seized.
• Critics warn that due to insufficient preparation for the ban on disposable vape and advertising, the government may lead to crime levels similar to those in Australia, where illegal economy dominates and violent activities such as drug gangs setting fire to shops occur.
• Conservative MP and member of the responsible e-cigarette cross party parliamentary group, Jack Rankin, stated that,
• Due to the lack of appropriate resources or plans to monitor the market, black society operators will quickly take action and usher in a new era of vape product crime enterprises. Due to advertising bans leading to reduced customer traffic, small businesses have already suffered losses, which in turn will encourage more people to purchase products from the black market
• A study by the Convenience Store Association (ACS) last year showed that the £ 10 million government funding could only cover one-third of the funding required for the first year of UK law enforcement.
• Only £ 10 million will be used to enforce the ban on disposable vape and other electronic cigarette restrictions, which is equivalent to each local authority (LA) allocating only £ 31000 annually, which is not enough to enforce the ban
• The UK government needs to commit to providing additional funding beyond its commitments to ensure that trade standards have adequate resources to enforce the ban
• The study also estimates that small businesses will lose £ 645 million due to the ban on disposable vape and inadequate regulation.
• Mark Oates, founder of the event organization We Vape, believes that the insufficient enforcement resources and funding invested by the UK government have seriously weakened the positive contribution of e-cigarettes in reducing smoking rates and health hazards. The crackdown on illegal activities must be strengthened to prevent the deterioration of social security caused by black market activities.
• A survey data shows that the illegal activities of electronic cigarettes and tobacco are increasingly closely linked, with many goods being smuggled through the English Channel Tunnel and Dover Port.
• A nationwide survey in 2024 found that 80% of smokers have purchased illegal tobacco, and one-fifth of smokers only purchase illegal products.
• The Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Bill completed its report stage and third reading in Parliament last month and will now be reviewed in the UK House of Lords before obtaining royal approval.