Sarah Murphy MS, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Today, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill has been introduced into the UK Parliament. An earlier version of the Bill was introduced by the last UK Government on 20 March, but its progress was halted when Parliament was dissolved on 30 May ahead of the General Election.
Like the previous version, the new Bill seeks to change the age of sale for all tobacco products, cigarette papers and herbal smoking products so anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 will never legally be able to buy these products. It also makes it an offence to purchase these products on behalf of children and changes warning notices in retail premises. The provisions in the Bill will apply to Wales and the wider UK.
The Bill has been strengthened so the restrictions on selling vapes to under 18s now include non-nicotine vapes and other nicotine products. There are also provisions banning the free distribution of vapes for promotion purposes.
The Bill proposes introducing regulation-making powers to restrict flavours, point of sale displays and packaging for vaping products (nicotine and non-nicotine) as well as other consumer nicotine products.
This new version of the Bill has also been strengthened so vapes and other nicotine products can be prevented from being deliberately branded and advertised to children. The Bill introduces a ban on vape vending machines and powers for Welsh Ministers to expand our existing smoke-free restrictions to include vaping and heated tobacco-free products, thereby enabling the creation of vape-free and heated tobacco-free places.
The Bill includes provision for a retail licensing scheme in Wales for the sale of tobacco products, herbal smoking products, cigarette papers, vaping or nicotine products. Other provisions include a ban on oral tobacco products and strengthening of enforcement procedures to include fixed penalty notices for a wider range of offences. There are also provisions to restrict advertising and sponsorship of a wider range of products, including vaping and nicotine products.
If the Bill becomes law, we will work closely with our partners in Wales and across the UK to progress the measures available.
Separate to the UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill – and as part of our efforts to reduce environmental impact and support a circular economy in Wales – we are committed to banning single-use vapes. We will continue to work closely with the UK Government and devolved governments to co-ordinate the coming into force of date on 1 June 2025.
I am committed to taking all measures necessary to address the health impacts of tobacco and am determined to do all we can to prevent young people from using vapes in Wales.
As the Bill makes provision in relation to Wales regarding devolved matters, a legislative consent memorandum will be laid in due course. I look forward to scrutiny of the Bill by Members, and to hearing the views of all our partners during the legislative process.
Tobacco and Vapes Bill 2024: creating a smoke-free generation and tackling youth vaping