MSPs unanimously voted in the Scottish Parliament to approve the Scottish Government’s draft Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 which will enable Scotland to become the first of the four countries in the UK to officially ban disposable e-cigarettes.
Similar country-specific regulations are anticipated to be considered in the Senedd, Stormont and Westminster, with the aim of delivering a UK-wide ban of single-use vapes from 1 April 2025.
The draft legislation – which is open for consultation until 8 March – is being taken forward in Scotland using powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
The age limit for buying tobacco would also change under UK government plans.
Separate legislation has been introduced by each nation on banning the sale and supply of single-use vapes.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of health charity ASH Scotland, said: “We congratulate cross-party MSPs for taking leading action by voting unanimously to enable Scotland to become the first nation in the UK to ban health and environmental harming single-use vapes.
“With disposable recreational e-cigarettes, which are the product of choice for the majority of children who vape, containing high levels of addictive nicotine as well as toxic chemicals that have not been safety tested for inhalation, ASH Scotland welcomes the ban as a vital stride forward towards protecting both Scotland’s environment and the health of our young people now and future generations.”
Circular Economy Minister, Lorna Slater said the Scottish government was committed to reducing vaping among non-smokers and young people as well as tackling their environmental impact.
She said: “The public consultation [Creating a Smoke-free Generation and Tackling Youth Vaping] demonstrated that there is strong support for tougher action on vaping.
“From causing fires in waste facilities to more than 26 million disposable vapes being consumed and thrown away in Scotland in the past year, single-use vapes are a threat to our environment as well as to our public health.
“These proposed changes to the law demonstrate our absolute commitment to further improve the wellbeing of communities and protecting our beautiful natural environment.”
The Scottish government will also bring forward UK-wide plans to increase the age for purchasing tobacco, making it illegal for anyone born after 1 January 2009 to buy the product.
This will be brought forward through UK-wide legislation, with a legislative consent motion then needed in Scotland.
