Call for stronger enforcement to prevent vape and nicotine ‘loopholes’ | LocalGov
The Local Government Association warns of vaping and nicotine regulation loopholes and urges stronger enforcement to protect children.Summary
The Local Government Association (LGA) has warned that “loopholes” exist in restrictions around vaping and nicotine products, and has called on the Government to create new rules to prevent companies from exploiting “loopholes and flavour tricks” that make products appealing to children. While councils support proposals to adapt packaging and display, the LGA cautions manufacturers could sidestep rules. Its recommendations include a single “sell-by” date for new products, a ban on sweet or fruity flavour descriptors, stricter plain packaging rules, and merging tobacco and vaping rules into a “single, easy-to-enforce national set of regulations”. It also advises promptly introducing retail licensing to strengthen enforcement, noting otherwise a “new inspection burden” will fall on authorities lacking a premises register. The LGA urges the Government to ensure new burdens from the Tobacco and Vapes Act are fully costed through a recurring settlement, argues councils should keep income from fixed penalty and licensing schemes, and suggests additional investment in local stop smoking services while backing proposals for pharmacies to be exempt from display regulations. Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor MBE, Chair of the LGA’s Health and Wellbeing Committee, said tighter controls on flavours, packaging and promotion are vital to tackle rising youth vaping, but will only succeed if straightforward to enforce, watertight against loopholes and flavour tricks, and backed by sustainable funding for Trading Standards.
(Source：localgov.co.uk)
